đ Tension in Taiwan
Plus: Ben & Jerry's turns icy on Unilever.
Good morning, Quartz readers!
Hereâs what you need to know
Taiwan said its defense systems were activated. China rolled out its first day of military drills as Taiwanâs defense ministry, which faces a fighter pilot shortage, claimed 22 PLA aircraft entered ROC airspace.
The Bank of England made its biggest rate hike since 1995. Rates were raised to 1.75% as authorities predict a more than year-long recession and 13% inflation.
A Russian court sentenced US basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in jail. The conviction raises the stakes of a potential prisoner swap.
Toyota profits dropped 42%... The Japanese carmaker performed worse-than-expected in its first quarter amid a global chip shortage and high costs.
⊠while Alibaba reported better-than-expected earnings. But its growth flatlined for the first time ever.
Russia will sell duty-free western imports in special shops for diplomats. US dollars and euros will be accepted as payment as Russia seeks to accrue more foreign currency.
Chinaâs average temperatures rose faster than the global average. According to its climate bureau, temperatures have gone up 0.26°C each decade since 1951, compared with the global average of 0.15°C.
What to watch for
The last few months have seen a deluge of natural catastrophes, from an unprecedented heat wave in Europe to devastating floods in Kentucky. For insurance companies, the rise of extreme weather is a mixed blessing. Higher risk means higher premiums, so some insurers are actually looking to increase their disaster coverage.
But climate disasters tend to be expensive, and this year has taken an especially hard toll. Insured losses from natural disasters reached $35 billion in the first half of 2022, according to a new analysis from Swiss Re Institute. Thatâs 22% above the 10-year average. But total economic losses for the year are about par for the course.
The reason for that is the so-called âcoverage gapâ: many disasters occur in low- and middle-income countries where property insurance is uncommon. But the front lines of climate change will become increasingly entrenched in wealthy countries, and insurance companiesâ premium-paying members who live in climate-vulnerable areas will need to prepare for higher costs.
Ben & Jerryâs turns icy on Unilever
By acquiring brands with firm moral standpoints, global goods company Unilever has sought to project a strong ethical image. One of the most long-standing and, so far, successful of these arrangements has been between Unilever and Ben & Jerryâs.
But a disagreement about the sale of Ben & Jerryâs ice cream in Israel is threatening to derail the relationship. It also begs the question: Can a company remain mission-driven if it simply avoids making a stand when a difficult situation arises?
Need to catch up? Weâve put together a timeline for you:
July 2021: Ben & Jerryâs said it would stop selling ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, but would still sell in other parts of Israel.
June 2022: Under pressure to reverse the move, Unilever sidestepped the controversy and said it would sell its Ben & Jerryâs business in Israel.
July 2022: Ben & Jerryâs sued Unilever, accusing the parent company of violating their merger agreement.
August 8: Both companies will be in court for a hearing on the lawsuit.
The hard seltzer craze is going flat
Hard seltzer boomed at the start of the pandemic, but a 5.5% dip in sales last year signals the alcoholic beverage is losing its fizz. The market has become saturated with one too many competitors, and inflation is pushing people to buy its cheaper cousin, light beer.
But itâll take more than triteness and a slowing economy to dethrone seltzers from the top of the ready-to-drink alcohol market. As Quartz reporter Michelle Cheng explains, for now, the drinks still dominate, but companies will need to find a way to keep hard seltzers cool.
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The meaning of death is under question. Scientists revived pigsâ organs after the animals had died of cardiac arrest.
The Earth recorded its shortest day ever on June 29, 2022. Whatâs making the planet spin faster is unclear, but it may relate to tides or to ice caps melting and refreezing.
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