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Here’s what you need to know
Japan’s vaccine minister Taro Kono is favored to be its next prime minister. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is choosing its new leader today, after Yoshihide Suga announced he would step down.
Amazon’s new devices seek to embed the company further into customers’ lives. Highlights from its hardware event include a wall-mounted smart display with facial recognition, a smart thermostat, a “virtual security guard” service, and an adorable home assistant robot.
EU lawmakers OKed natural gas pipeline subsidies through 2027. Members of the EU parliament said the compromise was necessary to ensure a hard deadline for phasing out fossil fuels.
The economic outlook for East Asia looks less rosy. The World Bank now predicts growth of 2.5% for the region in 2021, down from its forecast of 4.4% in April. However, China is on track to hit 8.5% growth.
Hong Kong prepares to rubber stamp an anti-doxxing law. Despite free speech concerns from US tech companies, the city’s legislative council is expected to vote yes on a bill that criminalizes posting others’ personal information online.
Alexei Navalny faces a new criminal investigation. Russia said the Kremlin critic is suspected of founding and leading an extremist group, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
What to watch for
One of the things that separates savvy investors from average Joes is that the pros have a deep knowledge of companies most of us have never heard of. By the time the average consumer learns about a company, its shares have often been snapped up.
But in the next few months, there will be a slew of public offerings from companies that make and sell stuff you might actually already buy and use. It’s a chance for amateur investors to feel like insiders.
👓 Warby Parker, the glasses maker for millennials, will offer its shares in a direct listing today.
👟 All-Birds, the wool sneaker company, is planning an IPO for later this year.
🥣 Chobani, the Greek yogurt brand, is also planning an IPO.
🥗 And salad chain Sweetgreen has disclosed plans to go public, although it may hold off after its CEO drew fire for his Covid-related comments.
What we’ve learned from recent Covid-19 studies
The results of two Covid-19 studies have been making the rounds as of late, as the pandemic’s seemingly endless tenure has given researchers more time to learn more about both the virus and its vaccine. Let’s take a look at what they’ve said—or not said.
❣️ Vaccine-caused heart inflammation is still very rare. A Canadian study inadvertently fanned anti-vaccine flames when harried researchers used a wrong figure. The rise of scientific preprints, which get more information out more quickly, means that the results of flawed studies can get picked up and spread with no way to put all of the toothpaste back in the tube.
🕰 Long Covid affects a startling one third of Covid-19 sufferers. This Oxford study could only capture those who reported symptoms, or it may have missed those who went undiagnosed. But as one of the largest comparative studies of long Covid to date, it provides evidence that a significant proportion of people who are trying to “get back to normal” will have health issues to manage.
How to stay motivated at work
It’s Wednesday, and the week’s not even half over. If you’re feeling pretty blah about work these days, you may be tempted to blame the job itself, the sorry state of the world, or a personal failing—a lack of grit. While one silver lining of the Great Resignation is that people may be transitioning to jobs that are better for them, the truth is that if you liked your job pre-pandemic but are finding it hard to lurch over to your at-home desk and open your laptop, there’s an even more likely culprit. You might just miss working with and around people.
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What we’re reading
🏘 The deck is stacked against renters. Berliners voted to seize housing from big corporate landlords, while federal assistance can’t get to US renters fast enough.
💡 The US infrastructure bill doesn’t go far enough… It’ll take more than $27 billion to climate-proof the electric grid.
⚡️ …while China’s crypto ban could free up a country’s worth of energy. As much as Finland uses in a year, to be exact.
💸 A full sixth of urban Indians are investing in cryptocurrency. And 20% intend to do so in the next six months.
🚢 It’s very difficult to unload overstuffed cargo ships. They’re both a symptom and an exacerbator of the supply chain crisis.
🤖 AI loans are helping small businesses in the US. Just leave it to the algorithm…
Surprising discoveries
Netflix revealed its most popular movies and series of all time. They might not be what you expect.
A new species of prehistoric eagle was discovered in Australia. Archaehierax sylvestris lived 25 million years ago and feasted on koalas and possums.
Yale decides once and for all its famous Viking map of North America is a fake. The British Museum suspected as much back in 1957, but the American university bought it anyway.
An unreleased recording of John Lennon and Yoko Ono will be auctioned in Denmark. Four teenagers made the cassette in 1970 months before the Beatles broke up.
Scientists may have found a planet that orbits three stars. A true three-body problem.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, fake maps, and rare recordings by Beatles to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Tripti Lahiri, Oliver Staley, Lila MacLellan, Liz Webber, and Susan Howson.