Good morning, Quartz readers! Here’s the latest news you need to know:
1. US federal student loan repayments have resumed after a three-year pandemic pause, affecting approximately 28 million borrowers. This development could have implications for the overall economy due to credit conditions tightening.
2. Laphonza Butler has been chosen by California governor Gavin Newsom to fill the vacant seat of Dianne Feinstein in the US Senate. Butler, 44, will be the lone Black woman in the Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ lawmaker to represent the state.
3. Former president Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial begins today in New York, with his real estate empire at stake. The judge presiding over the trial does not have a lenient track record, making this a critical moment for Trump.
4. In response to a severe drought, the Panama Canal Authority has reduced the number of ships allowed to pass through the waterway each day. This measure aims to conserve water resources and address the impact of climate change on the canal.
Yes, climate change is exacerbating the intensity of El Niño:
This year, El Niño has made a comeback with increased intensity due to rising global temperatures. This climate pattern, characterized by warm surface waters in the Pacific Ocean, is naturally heating the Earth further. Here’s how this year’s event compares to previous ones:
– There have been seven El Niño events since 2000.
– During the 2014-16 El Niño season, the last and strongest one since 2000, a majority of the 34 provinces in Indonesia experienced severe drought.
– In the same season, approximately 60 million people in Southern Africa relied on food aid due to famine caused by El Niño.
If the current El Niño surpasses the previous one in strength, the consequences could be even more severe. To gain insights into the potential outcome, Quartz’s Clarisa Diaz analyzes the impacts of the seven El Niño seasons.
Are rich countries responsible for Nigeria’s medical brain drain?
“My safety means nothing to them. The government is not concerned about me.” – T., a nurse in Nigeria, expressing her frustrations with public officials.
Nigeria’s healthcare system has experienced significant challenges, leading to a rise in the number of nurses leaving the country. However, as the US and Europe attract healthcare workers from developing nations, the burden on the remaining nurses in Nigeria increases, resulting in exhaustion and burnout. Quartz examines the story of T. and other nurses in Nigeria as part of the “Merchants of Care” series, supported by the Pulitzer Center and in partnership with Type Investigations. Read T.’s full story for more insight.
Pop quiz: Can you identify Meta’s new AI assistants?
Which of the following celebrity personalities is not an inspiration for Meta’s new AI assistants?
A. Snoop Dogg
B. LeBron James
C. Kendall Jenner
D. Naomi Osaka
Find the answer here, and discover why the success of Meta’s latest AI investment isn’t solely dependent on the inspiration behind the assistants. The collection of data on user behavior is equally important.
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🤖 A new research paper by Sony AI exposes skin tone bias.
🏠 Nearly half of Americans aged 18 to 29 still live with their parents.
🍎 Apple is the leading acquirer of AI companies, despite not being vocal about its AI initiatives.
Surprising discoveries:
– Earthworms contribute to approximately 140 million tons of food production each year, equivalent to Russia’s grain harvests.
– Scientists have developed tiny flying robots that can shape-shift using origami techniques during flight. These solar-powered machines can transition from folded to unfolded in just 25 milliseconds.
– Fairy circles, ground imprints usually found in arid regions, have been discovered in new locations across 15 countries.
– Extreme heat and high meat prices are posing challenges for barbecue makers in Texas, impacting their business.
– Record-low water levels in Texas are revealing hidden caves and remnants of houses from a century ago.
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