Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
NASA’s Juno spacecraft reaches Jupiter. The solar-powered spacecraft, which has been traveling through deep space for five years, is expected to enter Jupiter’s orbit on Monday at 11 pm ET. Astronomers released pictures of the planet’s amazing polar light shows ahead of the historic event.
Brussels gives its verdict on Spanish soccer aid. The European Commission will conclude its two-and-a-half-year investigation into whether Spain unlawfully gave millions in state aid to seven top soccer clubs, including two of the biggest in the world—Real Madrid and Barcelona.
London Stock Exchange shareholders vote on the Deutsche Boerse merger. Both sides agreed on the $27-billion deal earlier this year but the British vote to leave the EU created some issues around its implementation. German regulator Bafin said the headquarters couldn’t be in London, as had been planned.
The US is closed for Independence Day. The financial markets are shut, along with government offices.
Over the weekend
UKIP’s Nigel Farage stepped down as head of his Brexit-supporting party. The unexpected move by the man who wanted Brexit for 20 years comes as the British establishment remains roiled by the vote to leave the EU. Meanwhile, chancellor George Osborne announced (paywall) that the UK’s corporation tax would be cut to “less than” 15%, from 20% now, in a bid to keep the UK “open for business.”
Horrific terror attacks in Iraq and Bangladesh. Over 160 people were killed and around 200 injured in a bomb explosion claimed by ISIL, which detonated late Saturday night in the busy Karrada district of Baghdad. ISIL also claimed credit for killing 20 people in an upmarket cafe in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, but the government denies that ISIL is responsible.
The Australian election ended in a cliffhanger. The country is still in limbo as national elections, called early by prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, left his conservatives without enough seats to form a government. The Liberal-National coalition looks set to lose the majority it won in 2013, but the final result isn’t expected for days.
Tesla really didn’t ship that many cars. The electric-car maker said it sent 14,370 cars to owners in the second quarter, well below its forecast of 17,000, thanks to a steep production ramp. Now it plans to ship 50,000 cars in the last six months of the year. Reminder: by 2018, it wants to be shipping 500,000 cars a year.
China’s Midea Group bought a $1.3-billion stake in a German robotics firm. After months of political hand-wringing in Berlin, 25% of Kuka will now go to Chinese owners. Kuka CEO Till Reuter approved the deal on assurance from Midea that jobs and plants will be protected until the end of 2023.
Quartz obsession interlude
Marc Bain on the new wonder fabric that is synthetic spider silk. “Spider silk’s qualities are nearly mythical. Its tensile strength is comparable to steel’s. Yet it is lighter, and can be as stretchy as a rubber band. Those traits in combination make it tougher than Kevlar.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
To improve college diversity, increase the number of interracial roommate pairings. A counter to the trend of colleges allowing freshmen to choose their own roommates.
Britain’s role in the global economy doesn’t matter that much. The economic slowdown in China is far more significant.
Free condoms do little to reduce teen pregnancy. The government should distribute more effective, longer-lasting birth control methods.
Surprising discoveries
A South Korean clinic is doing a brisk business cloning dogs. Sooam Biotech creates replicas for $100,000 a head.
Vatican City has the highest per-capita wine consumption in the world. Each resident, on average, drinks 74 liters per year—not including the wine drunk at mass.
A hospital is offering astrological guidance to patients. The program uses star charts to guide understanding of life events and personalities.
Stocks are still legal in the UK. And one town councilor plans to bring the medieval form of public punishment back.
Scientists have made a big step toward creating genetically modified glowing trees. Sustainable street lighting, anyone?
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