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Here’s what you need to know
Houston, we have a Chinese problem. The US ordered China to close its consulate in the Texan city, and trash cans outside the building were full of burning documents last night. Yesterday, the US justice department charged two Chinese men with trying to steal Covid-19 research.
Elon Musk qualified for a $2 billion payout. Tesla deliveries dipped only slightly in the second quarter of 2020, and its market cap six-month average rose above $150 billion, triggering the windfall. If it reports a profit for the fourth quarter in a row today, it’ll be eligible for the S&P 500.
Britain has reportedly given up on a US-UK trade deal this year. According to the Financial Times (paywall), officials blame the pandemic for the delay, although US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in London yesterday that he wants to “bring this to a closure just as quickly as possible.”
Protests in Portland continued. The city has attracted national scrutiny because of the heavy presence of armed federal agents sent by the Department of Homeland Security, whose acting head yesterday accused local authorities of not doing their jobs.
Quarantine exemptions are blamed for a Covid-19 outbreak in Hong Kong. The number of cases has risen by about 40% since July 5—there are now around 2,000 confirmed infections—after the business community demanded fewer restrictions on travel, virologists say (paywall).
The #FreeBritney campaign could have its moment today. Singer Britney Spears may make an appearance at a court hearing today to ask for control of her own personal and business affairs. Since a breakdown 12 years ago, her career has been in the hands of legal guardians, and her fans have had enough.
Ergonomic solutions
“We’re certainly expanding our thinking about what is a great-looking ergonomic solution.”
That’s what Meghan Dean, the director of ancillary partnerships at Steelcase, the world’s largest office furniture manufacturer, told Quartz reporter Anne Quito, who’s on a quest to answer the question on nearly every modern worker’s mind… Why doesn’t the perfect work-from-home chair exist yet?
Charting the return of the boomerang generation
Young adults in the US are moving home. Covid-19 has clobbered the job market for young Americans. As a result, the share of those in their 20s living with parents or grandparents jumped to 35% in June, up from 30% in January. Research from real estate company Zillow suggests it could depress rental markets in some cities.
For Members: Making antiracism work
This week we’re expanding our field guide on building an antiracist company with more examples of how organizations can create just and equitable workplaces.
- Diversity is a competitive advantage. S’More, an NYC-based dating startup, assembled a team of people from a variety of backgrounds to build an app with cross-cultural appeal.
- International principles can promote inclusivity. Lessons from the field of conflict resolution have helped inform companies looking for better ways to manage diversity.
- Open hiring gets results. A recruiting approach that avoids questions about education, experience, or criminal records can promote radical change.
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Surprising discoveries
Venus spits hot fire. The next closest planet to the sun is riddled with active volcanoes.
Paging Dr. Dada. An overlooked New York hospital storage room was found to be full of artwork by post-war masters including Willem de Kooning and Alexander Calder.
A soccer team is the hottest new accessory. Natalie Portman and two-year-old Alexis Ohanian headline a list of investors in a new women’s soccer club in Los Angeles.
You can’t pay Japanese people to travel. The country’s Go To Japan campaign that provides subsidies for internal tourism is wildly unpopular.
Joaquin Phoenix fans are intense. A hostage situation de-escalated only after the Ukrainian president recommended a little-known film about animal rights the actor is in.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, hospital fine art, and a proper chair 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 Hasit Shah, Dan Kopf and Max Lockie.