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What to watch for today
Mark Zuckerberg testifies. The Facebook CEO has the tough mission of convincing members of the house financial services committee that his company can be trusted to handle users’ money with its troubled cryptocurrency project Libra.
Boeing reports earnings. The company is expected to announce a drop in revenue and profits, as it struggles to contain the fallout of the 737 Max scandal. Kevin McAllister, who was handling the crisis and trying to bring back the aircraft to operation, was ousted on Tuesday.
A former military chief tries to form a government in Israel. Centrist Benny Gantz gets a chance to assemble a coalition in Israel after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he could not cobble together enough support in the divided parliament.
While you were sleeping
Boris Johnson threatened to call a general election. The UK minister had to ask the EU for a Brexit delay, because lawmakers refused to approve his fast-paced legislative schedule. If the delay is granted, Brexit could be postponed to January.
Hong Kong withdrew the bill that ignited months of protests. The activists who started the protests in March feared that the proposed bill would have facilitated extradition of criminal suspects to China, where they could be victims of human rights abuses.
Russia and Turkey joined forces against the Kurds. Vladimir Putin gave Recep Tayyip Erdoğan his blessing to clear out the remaining Kurdish forces from northern Syria, cementing Moscow and Ankara as the main foreign players in the region.
Chile’s president announced measures to appease protesters. Sebastián Piñera said he would create a higher minimum wage and increase the minimum pension, among other measures. He also apologized for growing inequality, and for decades of government inaction.
39 migrants were found dead inside a truck container in the UK. The bodies of 38 adults and one teenager were found in Essex, east of London. The driver, who is British, has been arrested.
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The world can’t wait to rid itself of the need for coal. Without drastic cuts, there’s little chance of hitting emission targets and avoiding the most catastrophic effects of climate change. Mining coal and then burning it also produces other toxins, polluting our air, water, and soil. But what exactly makes coal so dirty?
Quartz Obsession
Data compression makes Netflix and chill possible. As we send more and more data through the internet, we constantly test the limits of mathematics, computing power, and perception to reduce communication to its essence. The Quartz Obsession leaves out only the unessentials.
Matters of debate
We are job-shaming the wrong people. A UK tabloid tried to humiliate an actress for working as a security guard.
We should try harder to pronounce ‘foreign’ names. Elite, world-famous African athletes routinely have their names mangled.
Hidden cameras don’t work. More obvious surveillance devices deter criminals on one hand, and lessen paranoia on the other.
Surprising discoveries
Russia discovered five new islands in the Arctic after the glaciers above them melted. The country is expanding its presence in the region as its own ice is disappearing.
Massachusetts could outlaw the “b-word.” It’s demeaning to women and everyone else, really, says a proposed bill.
Space farmers could grow crops on the moon and Mars. Using simulated lunar dust and Martian soil, researchers grew tomatoes, rye, and radishes.
Hesitant hitmen were jailed for their botched assassination plot. They kept giving the job to each other until their plan crumbled.
Gull poop pollutes islands, but it’s our fault. The birds scavenge among garbage, then carpet bomb their natural habitats with wrappers and chemicals.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, lunar dust, and botched assassination plots to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Luiz Romero and Hasit Shah.