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China ordered the US to shut its Chengdu consulate… Beijing’s move comes in retaliation against the US state department’s deadline for China to shut its Houston diplomatic outpost today, which China has made clear it has no intention of heeding. Asian markets slid on news of the tensions while the safe-haven yen surged to a one-month high.
…and Mike Pompeo gave a fiery speech on China. The US secretary state made an urgent call for “free nations” to stand up to the “new tyranny” of China, calling the country a “Frankenstein” and declaring an end to “blind engagement” with Beijing. Meanwhile, the US arrested three Chinese nationals for visa fraud, while the FBI seeks a fourth who’s believed to be hiding in the Chinese consulate in San Francisco.
Turkey’s Hagia Sophia is open for Friday prayers. It’ll receive Muslim worshippers for the first time since the museum in Istanbul was converted from a museum back to a mosque, in a move championed by president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and criticized by political and religious leaders worldwide.
India and the UK discuss a trade deal. The the two sides will meet to deepen their trade partnership, including expanding market access for UK goods in India. Separately, Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle sued an unnamed paparazzi member for allegedly taking drone photos of their son Archie at their California home.
New Zealand granted refugee status to Behrouz Boochani. The exiled Kurdish-Iranian journalist, who wrote a book using WhatsApp during his six years of detention in an Australian offshore processing facility, will now be able to live in New Zealand and work towards full citizenship.
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 that 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
Qantas pilots drew a kangaroo tail in the sky. The aerial art marked the airline’s final Boeing 747 flight.
Ritter Sport’s square chocolate bars carried the day. A German court ruled that the brand can claim sole permission to use the square shape.
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.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, aerial kangaroos, and robotic dolphins 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 Mary Hui, Isabella Steger, Tim Fernholz, Dan Kopf, Nicolás Rivero, Katherine Ellen Foley, and Liz Webber.