Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Central bankers sit down with their critics. In what is a first for the high-profile policy conference at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, eight central bankers, including William Dudley, president of the New York Fed, will meet with 120 activists (paywall) from the Campaign for Popular Democracy’s Fed Up Campaign, which wants to see change at the Federal Reserve.
Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment trial begins. Brazil’s suspended president has been charged with falsifying the national budget to make its deficit appear smaller. Her supporters and detractors have attempted to shape public opinion ahead of the trial.
Volkswagen gives a progress report. The scandal-hit German car will deliver an update on its regulatory approval to fix the 8.5 million diesel engines affected by its emissions-cheating software in part of a settlement before US district judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco.
While you were sleeping
Britain’s foremost Brexiteer threw his support behind Donald Trump. Nigel Farage addressed a Republican rally in Jackson, Mississippi and backed Trump to ”beat the pollsters” as Trump trails Hillary Clinton by a wide margin—just as the campaign to leave the EU did in the weeks before its victory. “I wouldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton if you paid me,” Farage added.
Lots of people came to Britain the run-up to the Brexit vote. The UK’s annual net migration to the year ending March 2016 was 327,000. It has stayed above 300,000 for the past six quarters now—well above the government’s goal of bring migration down to the “tens of thousands.” The number of Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants reached a new peak. Immigration was a primary motivator of voters who went for Brexit.
Security forces ended the siege at the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul. Thirteen people, seven of whom were students, died in the attack on the college, and dozens suffered injuries in the assault which began Wednesday evening. The police finally shot two armed assailants after 10 hours, but no group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The death toll in Italy’s earthquake rose reached 247. The death toll keeps rising as rescuers began a second day of hunting for people trapped in the rubble after Wednesday’s earthquake, which destroyed towns in Umbria, Lazio, and Marche. Officials say 368 people are being treated for injuries and they expect the death toll to rise further.
Shoe-loving men gave Jimmy Choo a lift. Men now account for 8% of revenue at the 20-year-old luxury footwear company. Revenue was up by 9% in the first six months of the year from the same period last year, but pre-tax profits plunged to £6.6 million ($8.7 million), down from £20 million in the first six months of last year. Shares have fallen 17% this year.
Colombia reached a peace deal with FARC rebels. The historic agreement, which ends the country’s 52-year war, was signed after four years of negotiations, after tentatively reaching a deal in June. Now begins a feverish campaign to ratify the agreement in an October referendum, which includes a withdrawal of troops, rural development, and political participation for the rebels.
Quartz obsession interlude
Michael Tabb on humanity’s best shot at seeing life outside our solar system. “NASA knows there are billions of Earth-sized exoplanets out there, many of which could (for better or worse) host life. But until we can travel faster than the speed of light, we’ll never actually be able to reach most of them. With the discovery of Proxima b, an Earth-like planet just 4.2 light years away, that could change.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Let’s not eulogize office culture just yet. For many, working from home is a life that’s mostly work.
Leave burkinis alone and outlaw fat men wearing speedos on the beach. “For the sake of our traumatized children.”
Don’t write off the movie remake. Producers desperately avoid describing films as “reboots,” but some of the greatest movies ever are reimagined classics.
Surprising discoveries
Qatar’s oil boom created a blossoming art industry. Too bad it crashed when oil prices bottomed out at $28 dollars a barrel last year.
The Italian government is giving teens a €500 cultural bonus. It hopes the money will keep them from becoming radicalized.
Magic has gone mainstream. More people are turning to mysticism and the occult to fill spiritual gaps in their lives.
Scientists discovered a potentially habitable planet. Proxima B is only 4.2 light years away—start packing!
Post-Olympics, the repercussions are mounting. Hope Solo was suspended for insulting the Swedish soccer team and Rory McIlroy admitted he was “somewhat proven wrong“ about golf at the Games.
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