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China protests the closure of a US consulate. The Chinese consul general in Houston told Politico he has no plans to close by today’s deadline, even as reports circulate that Beijing will shutter a US consulate in Chengdu in retaliation and the US accused China of harboring a fugitive scientist in its San Francisco consulate. Meanwhile, in a speech US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the world needs a new approach to engaging with China.
WHO “will not be distracted” by Pompeo’s China comments. Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Pompeo’s assertion earlier this week that China had co-opted the global health organization was “untrue and unacceptable.” Separately, China offered a $1 billion loan to Latin American and Caribbean countries to help pay for Covid-19 vaccines.
South Korea is officially in a recession. The Bank of Korea reported GDP shrank 3.3% in the latest quarter, due in large part to a 16.6% decline in exports. Meanwhile, Japan’s Cabinet Office is expected to announce the country’s most recent economic expansion actually ended in October 2018.
New US jobless claims rose for the first time since March. More than 1.4 million Americans filed for unemployment last week, the 14th straight week claims have topped 1 million. Senate Republicans were expected to put forward a new $1 trillion coronavirus relief bill yesterday but still aren’t seeing eye to eye with the White House on key issues.
And now, a sports update. A shortened baseball season kicks off in the US, with infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch for the defending World Series champions, the Washington Nationals. Tokyo held a ceremony to mark one year until the beginning of the Olympic Games. And China has reportedly relegated Premier League matches to lesser watched state TV channels as tensions simmer with the UK.
The details of China’s Mars mission
🚀 Yesterday, China launched Tianwen-1, an ambitious mission to put a sensor-covered spacecraft in orbit around Mars and land a rover on the surface.
📃 Tianwen means “Heavenly Question” or “quest for heavenly truth,” a reference to classic verses by the third century poet Qu Yuan which also inspired Pink Floyd.
🔭 The space mission’s questions focus on the composition of Mars, including water there, how the planet evolved, and the possible presence of extraterrestrial life.
⏰ Why now? The Earth and Mars are as close as they will be for the next 26 months. The United Arab Emirates launched a mission last week, and the US is launching the largest Mars rover ever on July 30.
🌏 The space race isn’t over. Chinese leaders believe landing on Mars will enhance their nation’s global prestige and demonstrate an alternative to US technology leadership.
Get the latest on all things space by signing for Quartz’s free weekly Space Business newsletter 👇
Charting electric bike sales
The electric bicycle’s popularity continues to surge. Through May, e-bike sales more than doubled in the US (✦ Quartz member exclusive) compared to 2019, and consulting firm Deloitte expects 300 million e-bikes on streets globally by 2023. The pandemic has spurred interest in e-bikes as an option for commuters who want to avoid public transportation, as well as people looking for a new way to have fun outdoors.
✦ For members: Execs are getting skittish about AI
Companies increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to automate crucial tasks—like deciding who should get credit and triaging patients seeking care—and corporate boards are starting to worry about the ethical ramifications of turning so much power over to the machines.
But a pair of recent surveys of executives shows those concerns haven’t necessarily led to actions:
60%: AI executives who reported feeling top-down pressure from their boards to beef up their efforts on ethics
33%: AI execs surveyed who are creating ethics policies or oversight boards to do something about their concerns
56% Companies that said they are slowing adoption of AI tools because of the risks involved
“Interest is increasing, but we’re starting from a surprisingly low baseline,” said McKinsey technology consultant Michael Chui.
✦ Read more about how companies are handling these ethical dilemmas in our field guide on AI’s power problem, which you can access by signing up for a Quartz membership, now 40% off.
You asked about cloth masks
What’s the best cloth mask?
The best mask is the one you’ll wear! But if you’re looking for the most effective reusable mask, the World Health Organization has issued some recommendations for superior droplet protection. First things first, you want a three-layer mask; more layers = more filtration. To amp it up, each layer should be made with a different fabric to serve a different role. Next to your mouth goes cotton or something else soft and woven. The middle should be a non-woven material, like a Kleenex or the polypropylene in reusable shopping bags, to increase filtration. And the outside should be something that repels moisture, like a nylon or polyester blend. We haven’t seen any masks marketed that look like this, so you’ll have to DIY for now.
Surprising discoveries
Taylor Swift has had a really productive lockdown. She’s releasing a surprise album at midnight EDT.
Mosquitos are just really thirsty. Our bodies’ ability to store water explains why one species prefers humans to other animals.
Robotic dolphins could be coming to an aquarium near you. The surprisingly realistic animatronics cost $26 million each.
Endurance athletes are setting a record number of records. With official races canceled, many are searching for a different form of glory.
Taiwanese police returned a lost Nintendo Switch with the help of Animal Crossing. Officers played the hit game to send messages to the owner’s friends.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, your best mask designs, and your favorite quarantine tunes 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 Tim Fernholz, Dan Kopf, Nicolás Rivero, Katherine Ellen Foley, and Liz Webber.