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Here’s what you need to know
US president Donald Trump signed new China sanctions. Trump said the new law punishes the country for limiting Hong Kong’s autonomy. He also told gathered press that he had issued an executive order to end preferential treatment of Hong Kong, saying, “No special privileges, no special economic treatment and no export of sensitive technologies.”
Flipkart sees fresh funding at a higher valuation. Walmart—already majority-owner of the Indian ecommerce business—will inject $1.2 billion in the firm, raising its valuation to around $25 billion. Also, the Economic Times reports that Google will launch a new food delivery service in the country. And in other news at the nexus of food and ecommerce, Amazon has introduced a new smart grocery cart.
The British government banned Huawei from its 5G network. Additionally, mobile providers with Huawei kit in their networks must remove it by 2027 (✦ Quartz member exclusive). Finland’s Nokia wasted no time in announcing its readiness to step in and replace the forbidden gear. Meanwhile, China is reportedly sanctioning Lockheed Martin over arms sales to Taiwan.
Hong Kong’s public broadcaster is under review. RTHK, which recently had to cancel a satirical news show, will enter a six-month governmental review, as fears grow that the broadcaster will become a casualty of the new national security law. Beijing also cited the new law to call an unofficial primary election—in which 600,000 Hong Kongers were involved—illegal, and Apple continues to stymie the city’s protest movement.
Foreign college students will be allowed to stay in the US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rescinded a rule that would have forced overseas students to move to a school with in-person teaching or leave the country, just as a court began a hearing for a lawsuit that was filed against the agency by Harvard and MIT.
Qantas will cancel international flights until March 2021. Australia’s big carrier has removed all its inventory from routes going to other countries—with the exception of New Zealand—which is a step that typically acts as a harbinger for cancellations. The nation is currently operating under a ban on citizens traveling overseas.
An economic health check-up
Economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic requires an unprecedented effort from all levels of industry and government. Here’s what we’re tracking now:
- 🏦 Paycheck protection. The US gave employers over half a trillion dollars and has no idea how many jobs it saved (✦). Plus, the data is a mess, and rife with confidentiality breaches.
- 💵 Unemployment benefits. An extra $600 a week that has provided a lifeline to tens of millions of laid-off workers is scheduled to expire at the end of the month.
- 💼 Getting back to work. These three steps can help prevent returning workers from getting sick. Plus, here’s some advice for working remotely for the long haul.
The Trump Book Club
US president Donald Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, who also has a PhD in psychology, is the author of the latest Trump tell-all. Published Tuesday, Too Much and Never Enough focuses on the family that Mary Trump says turned her uncle into a narcissist who is “lost in his own delusional spin.”
The Trump tell-all has become a genre in and of itself, with a growing list of books that examine the president from various angles. Perhaps your book club needs a little light reading to get it in the mood for what’s sure to be another tumultuous US election?
- The Room Where It Happened, by former national security advisor John Bolton, 2020
- The Threat, by former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe, 2019
- A Higher Loyalty, by former FBI director James Comey, 2018
- Fire and Fury, by journalist Michael Wolff, who interviewed many Trump staffers, 2018
- Unhinged, by former director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison Omarosa Manigault Newman, 2018
Charting TikTok influencers
When the Indian government banned TikTok on June 29, hundreds of thousands of Indian content creators had the rug pulled out from under their feet. The number of Indian TikTok influencers—those with more than a thousand followers on the short-form video platform—was only second to those from the US (✦), according to a July 11 report by social media analytics firm HypeAuditor.
✦ For members: When diversity initiatives hurt diversity
Mandatory diversity training, grievance procedures, and job tests—three of the most common diversity and inclusion initiatives employed by companies—produce results contrary to their stated goal.
That’s according to a series of studies by academics Alexandra Kalev and Frank Dobbin who analyzed the effect of such programs on manager diversity at 829 US companies over three decades.
How did we get here? Read more about why some common diversity initiatives actually decrease diversity and why diversity initiatives fail in our field guide on how to create an anti-racist company.
(Not yet a member and want to try it out? Be our guest for seven days.)
You asked about hugs
Why can’t you hug someone if you both agree to hold your breath for the duration of the hug (say, three seconds) and then separate to six feet or more? —Amy
Great question, and it makes us wonder why we’re not always asking about hugs. Last month, aerosol scientist Dr. Linsey Marr told the New York Times, “If you don’t talk or cough while hugging, the risk should be very low.” Of course, low risk and no risk are very different. And if you know someone is infected or is at risk it’s best to avoid hugs altogether. If you must hug, be sure to point your faces in opposite directions, and as you suggested—keep it brief and then back off. And if you really want to go the extra mile, check out this family’s makeshift plastic “hug glove” for inspiration.
Surprising discoveries
Kenya’s getting its internet from balloons. Alphabet’s Loon project, which launched in Puerto Rico and Nevada, made an extremely long journey to East Africa.
Your burger has been lovingly prepared by Flippy. White Castle is testing out its first robotic line cook.
The US is facing a nut glut. Planting more trees in response to growing demand several years ago has led to a weighty surplus that’s not going anywhere.
Deep breaths. A Colorado squirrel tested positive for the bubonic plague, which, we need to point out, is nowadays effectively treated with antibiotics.
The world’s heaviest soaring bird almost never flaps its wings. The Andean condor seeks out rising air and glides 99% of the time—much like a human glider pilot.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, extra almonds, and gift-bearing balloons to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Susan Howson, Ananya Bhattacharya, and Max Lockie.