Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The UK measures consumer price inflation. Analysts will look to the CPI for the first solid indication of how consumers have fared since June’s vote to exit the EU. They expect a -0.1% contraction and potential inflation volatility as a result of a weaker pound, which is facing three-year lows against the euro.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo addresses the nation. The Indonesian leader, who has been criticized for his record on human rights, delivers his second state-of-the nation address to parliament ahead of Independence Day celebrations on August 17.
Gawker’s future is decided. The bankrupt media company will be sold to the highest bidder in an effort to pay off its $140 million penalty in a privacy case brought by wrestler Hulk Hogan. Meanwhile Peter Thiel, who helped finance Hogan’s suit, argued in the New York Times that online privacy is an ongoing problem.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump laid out his plan to combat terrorism. The Republican presidential nominee’s vision includes an end to an “era of nation-building” and the start of joint military operations with Russia. Speaking in Ohio, Trump also called for “extreme vetting” of people entering the US.
An airstrike hit a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Yemen. At least least six people were reportedly killed and 13 others injured in a bombing by the Saudi-led coalition in the northern part of the country. The airstrike comes just 48 hours after MSF said the coalition bombed a Koranic school, killing 10 children.
The EU’s plans to regulate the internet were revealed. The bloc may regulate Skype or WhatsApp more like European telecommunications companies, which have been complaining about an uneven playing field, according to The Wall Street Journal. The European Commission wants to propose stricter privacy and security requirements (paywall) on the services.
Dropbox considered an IPO. The online file storage company may go public as soon as 2017, Bloomberg reported, citing early-stage talks. Fearful of lower valuations than in private funding rounds, tech companies are wary of going public, making this year the slowest for tech IPOs since the recession.
The US government halted the trading of a sketchy $35 billion stock. The Securities and Exchange Commission suspended Neuromama, which trades on the unregulated over-the-counter stock market, over concerns about potential manipulation. The company’s share price has quadrupled this year, giving it a paper value above Tesla or Delta, despite the fact that has not posted its financial results since 2013.
Quartz markets haiku
Stocks keep on climbing
Banks keep on stimulating
So where does it end?
Quartz obsession interlude
Alison Griswold on the price of the ‘Uber-for-anything’ promise. “Uber ‘disrupted’ the taxi industry by offering a better service at a lower price. It’s much less apparent whether on-demand delivery startups can do the same. Companies like Postmates and Instacart are inherent middlemen selling Uber’s speed and app-based convenience without its clear cost advantage. Most consumers are only willing to pay so much.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Sugar isn’t making kids hyper. A dose of sweetness only gives an energy boost to those with low blood-sugar. Children are just naturally excited.
India is still plagued by its caste system. On the 70th anniversary of the country’s independence, the most oppressed class—the dalits—are not really free, and the nation’s elite can persecute them with impunity.
Running is the fairest sport. Almost half of the refugee team at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio took up the sport because a pair of donated shoes and a great deal of dedication can bring success at almost no cost.
Surprising discoveries
There are still companies that will pay you for life. Some US firms still offer defined-benefit pension plans—just make sure you stick around for five years.
Evaluating lead levels is for the birds. High levels of lead evident in pigeons’ blood makes testing them a good proxy for children in certain neighborhoods.
Generosity goes hand in hand with happiness. The part of the brain that controls altruism is smaller in people with depression.
The pope planned a beach getaway—for Rome’s homeless. Participants were provided with swimsuits, beach towels, and treated to pizza by the Vatican.
Conservationists are using chili powder-filled condoms to save elephants. The condoms are being thrown at elephants in Tanzania to keep them from wandering into human settlements.
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