These are the core obsessions that drive our newsroom—defining topics of seismic importance to the global economy.
These are some of our most ambitious editorial projects. Enjoy!
Our emails are made to shine in your inbox, with something fresh every morning, afternoon, and weekend.
A new iron curtain is descending. So says Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. Meanwhile, Russian forces were pushed out of Snake Island, and the European Court of Human Rights sent a probably fruitless order forbidding Moscow to execute detained Brits.
Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong. China’s president is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the British handover while calling his crackdown in Hong Kong over the last two years a success.
The US Supreme Court weakened federal power to regulate emissions. The move hinders the country’s ability to fight climate change. After a jarring week of SCOTUS decisions, the docket appears to continue the theme.
South Korea committed to raising its minimum wage in 2023. Added to an earlier hike this year, the 5% increase, meant to fight inflation, puts the country on par with the US and Japan.
Hackers from North Korea are suspected of stealing $100 million in crypto. Last week’s Horizon Bridge heist had some stylistic similarities to other thefts attributed to Lazarus Group.
TSMC threw up a red flag. The Taiwanese semiconductor giant has been struggling with employee turnover and utility concerns, which doesn’t bode well for the ongoing chip shortage.
Hello Kitty made big gains on the stock market. Sanrio, the company that designed the kawaii character, saw its stock jump 15% after signing a deal with Alibaba.
T-Mobile will shut off the last vestiges of its 3G cellular network in the US today. Other major US carriers, including AT&T and Sprint, have already axed their 3G networks to clear out more radio frequency bands for new 5G ones. Verizon plans to follow suit by the end of the year. The death of 3G will render some older phones, Kindles, and OnStar roadside assistance systems useless—although most devices sold in the last decade should be compatible with newer networks.
After launching in 2002, 3G cell networks helped usher in the age of the smartphone, giving mobile devices fast enough internet speeds that users could stream videos and scroll through social media feeds. While 3G networks are starting to shut down across the US, Europe, and Japan, 3G remains a crucial link to the web for smartphone users around the world—especially in poor countries like Cuba, where a brand new 3G network helped protesters organize and document historic nationwide anti-government demonstrations last year.
Can a battery the size of a shipping container really end the need for coal- and gas-fired “peaker” plants, which run when there’s a high demand for energy?
Tesla’s Megapack batteries are starting to live up to that promise in the US. The company is accelerating utility-scale battery construction at a pace that increased nearly tenfold in 2021. The big batteries can store renewable energy when demand is low, and pump it back out to the grid when demand is high.
Tesla isn’t the only company obsessed with big batteries. LG and Samsung are key rivals. But while the race to build the big guys could build fortunes for the companies that come to dominate the industry, it will also play a crucial role in weaning the world off of fossil fuels.
Now that the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, Americans are raising concerns about what data police and prosecutors could access to incriminate people who seek abortions. If law-enforcement officials can’t access medical documents, they could turn to financial services companies for data on payment transactions.
Remember cash? Paying for abortion services with cash could be one way to avoid detection, posing a challenge to the idea that cash is on its way out, as Quartz reporter Michelle Cheng explains.
✦ Quartz journalists are able to pursue stories like these thanks to your support. Become a Quartz member today, and take 40% off when you sign up.
⚖️ The Supreme Court has crippled the US’s fight against climate change
💸 These are the next startup investment hotspots in west Africa
🥸 H&M showed bogus environmental scores for its clothing
🧠 Companies’ relationship with mental health has fundamentally changed
💬 How Rwanda became a melting pot of official languages
⚡️ The war in Ukraine is no longer shocking the wheat market
A Canadian radio station played one song for 10 hours. Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name” on repeat was in protest to the firing of two DJs.
One cherry sold for $296. A box of 15 Juno Heart cherries, a variety developed in Aomori, Japan, fetched 600,000 yen ($4,420) at auction.
More and more people truly believe AIs are sentient. It could be harmful, or it could help humans feel less lonely.
British taxpayers got a sexy business stake. After providing a loan to Killing Kittens, an adult party organizer, the UK government converted the money to an equity stake in the startup.
A rocket crashed into the Moon. And NASA can’t figure out where it came from.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Send any news, comments, expensive fruit, and AI friends to hi@qz.com. Reader support makes Quartz available to all—become a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Nicolás Rivero, Julia Malleck, Susan Howson, and Morgan Haefner.
📬 Kick off each morning with coffee and the Daily Brief (BYO coffee).
By providing your email, you agree to the Quartz Privacy Policy.