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What to watch for today
G7 finance ministers discuss cryptocurrencies and digital taxes. Over a working dinner in France, they will take stock of the impact of digitalization on the world economy and debate how to tax tech giants like Google and Amazon. France has vowed not to back down on the tax despite US threats of legal action.
The EU-Canada summit begins in Montreal. The UK will be watching for the joint reaffirmation of their free-trade agreement, CETA, after Canada signaled its unwillingness to extend the treaty to the UK in the case of a no-deal Brexit.
Infamous drug kingpin El Chapo is sentenced in New York. Joaquin Guzman, who for years led Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa cartel, faces life in prison. He was convicted in February of drug trafficking, money laundering, and weapons offenses.
While you were sleeping
The European Commission elected its first female president. Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s defense minister, narrowly secured the confirmation from the European Parliament to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker. She begins her five-year term in November.
Amazon reached a deal with Germany’s anti-trust watchdog. The online retail giant agreed to overhaul its terms of service for third-party merchants, who had complained of unfair treatment. The changes will apply to countries beyond Germany, including the UK, France, Italy, and Spain, as well as Asia and America.
Myanmar’s military leaders were hit with US sanctions. The army chief and other senior commanders have been barred from entering the US in response to their roles in the massacres of minoirty Rohingya Muslims. Critics say the move is much-delayed and largely symbolic.
The US Senate grilled Facebook over Libra. David Marcus, who leads the social media giant’s crypto wallet, tried to assuage lawmakers’ concerns that the company shouldn’t be trusted with people’s money or financial data. Facebook hopes to debut its new cryptocurrency next year.
The US House voted to condemn Donald Trump’s racist tweets. Four Republican leaders joined 235 Democrats to pass a resolution to formally denounce the US president’s recent xenophobic tirade against four progressive Democratic congresswomen of color, in which he told them to “go back” to their “crime infested” countries.
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Thinking globally about charitable giving. As part of our week-long field guide to new approaches to philanthropy, International Rescue Committee chief executive David Miliband shared with Quartz reporter Natasha Frost his insights on how we should approach humanitarianism.
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Matters of debate
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TikTokers are the new YouTubers. The younger, hipper video platform is home to the next generation of star creators.
Canada has overregulated legal weed. Stringent policies put Canadian producers at a disadvantage against American competitors.
Put diaper-changing stations in men’s rooms. Businesses should accommodate dads with small kids and big messes.
Surprising discoveries
A Titanic survivor’s light-up cane is up for sale. Ella White had used it to guide her lifeboat to safety, and it’s now expected to fetch at least $500,000 at an auction.
Kim Jong Un has an impressive car collection. Flashy rides are among the vast trove of luxury goods North Korea imports from as many as 90 countries, despite UN sanctions.
Scientists found an alien moon nursery. An image from Chile’s ALMA Observatory shows a new moon being born in a ring of debris around a planet 370 light years away.
Grimes revealed her wellness routine. It includes sword fighting and screaming sessions, the Canadian musician revealed.
Cancun is smothered in stinky algae. Thousands of tons of slimy, brown sargassum have washed onto the Yucatan’s beaches and driven tourists away.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Titanic memorabilia, and newborn moons 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 Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.