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UK prime minister Boris Johnson survived the no-confidence vote. While Johnson holds onto office for now, 41% of his party voted for him to step down, citing the Partygate scandal and loss of public trust as motivating factors.  

US president Joe Biden wants to boost domestic production of solar panels. He also plans to exempt tariffs on panels from southeast Asia for two years.

Texas launched an investigation into Twitter’s bots. Attorney general Ken Paxton wants to know how many non-human accounts are on the social media platform, a sticking point in the negotiations over the company’s acquisition by billionaire—and Texas resident—Elon Musk.

Lawmakers investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection found evidence of “premeditated activity.” The full findings from the US House select committee will be made public later this week, broadcast live on most channels but not Fox News.

New York state may ban most crypto mining. The bill, which has passed the state legislature but which governor Kathy Hochul has not yet signed, would put a two-year stop on the use of fossil fuels to power crypto mining. 

May was a bad month for startup layoffs. Around 17,000 workers lost their jobs at tech startups globally, the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Companies blame inflation and recession concerns.

What to watch for

The US is hosting the ninth Summit of the Americas this week in Los Angeles, bringing together more than 30 leaders from across Latin and North America to discuss key issues including climate change, migration, and inflation.

Guest list politics threaten to overshadow policy discussion. The Biden administration excluded Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela over human rights and a lack of democratic freedoms. Mexico’s president is seen in the photo above, but won’t be seen in LA: Andrés Manuel López Obrador is boycotting the summit.

It remains to be seen if the US can regain its footing after what critics are calling a real misstep. Biden’s first formal talk with far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has taken center stage. The leaders are slated to discuss “food insecurity, climate change and pandemic recovery,” according to the White House, representing a thawing of relations with the Trump ally that has his own authoritarian record.

Apple’s latest reveals

Apple made a big push into a new space at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. Here are the highlights:

💸⏰  Apple Pay Later: Apple entered the buy now, pay later market with a service that lets users pay for a purchase in four installments over six weeks with no interest or fees.

💻💡  The M2 chip: The company’s newest semiconductor promises more processing power while using less energy than its predecessor, the M1.

💻✨  New MacBooks: The new Pro promises faster processing and better battery life while the new Air is 25% smaller than its predecessor.

💾 🎉  New software: iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and Apple Watches will all get an update, which will allow users to edit their iMessages, use their watch to track their sleep, and collaborate on projects more easily using iPads.

🍕📣  Live update notifications about the status of your pizza delivery: You didn’t know you wanted this.

Work harder, not longer

The world’s biggest four-day workweek trial is kicking off in the UK, with more than 70 companies and 3,300 people aboard for the ride. Here’s some context from Quartz:

• Lithuania’s giving four-day workweeks for parents with young children.
• California may make it easier for larger companies to reduce their standard workweek.
• As job perks go, only flexible hours are more popular than the four-day workweek.
• Just one problem—those who work flexible hours tend to feel less motivated.

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Surprising discoveries

Harry Styles’s new album is selling best on vinyl. Sales of digital music are in freefall, bringing in only 4% of US music industry revenues in 2021.

Spotify podcasters make $18,000 producing the sound of falling rain. But who is behind the offerings is a bit of a mystery.

Crypto scammers have stolen over $1 billion since the start of 2021. Fake investment opportunities were behind most of the reported losses.

The first humans in Australia ate the eggs of the last living “Demon Ducks of Doom.” We just don’t make omelets like we used to.

Inflation rates in Southeast Asia are skyrocketing. Sri Lanka and Thailand have joined a growing club. What do we need to do to get back on track? 🎧 The latest episode of the Quartz Obsession podcast sheds some light on the subject.

📈  Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher

Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, rain sounds, and egg bragging rights to [email protected]. Reader support makes Quartz available to all—become a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Julia Malleck, Nicolás Rivero, Michelle Cheng, Susan Howson, Sofia Lotto Persio, and Alex Ossola.