US shoots down drone off Iranian coast
Donald Trump said the US shot down an Iranian drone in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions between the two countries continue to ratchet up. Trump said the drone came within roughly 900m of a US Navy ship. Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said, “We have no information about losing a drone today.” Iran shot down a US drone in the region last month. Sources: BBC, Deutsche Welle, France 24, Guardian and Reuters.
MPs block no deal manoeuvre
British MPs voted to block the UK’s new prime minister from suspending parliament in order to push through a no deal Brexit, which Boris Johnson has threatened to do. The measure passed by 315 to 274, with the support and abstention of several Tory MPs. Sources: BBC, Guardian and Associated Press.
Arson attack on anime studio in Japan
At least 33 people were killed and 10 were in critical condition after a man set fire to the studios of Kyoto Animation. Sources: Reuters, Guardian and BBC.
European Parliament passes Hong Kong resolution
MEPs called on Hong Kong’s government to withdraw a controversial extradition bill and for the EU to impose export controls on “technologies used to violate basic rights”. China’s foreign ministry said the motion was “full of ignorance, prejudice and double standard hypocrisy”. Sources: South China Morning Post and Hong Kong Free Press.
US formally agrees to long delayed Luxembourg tax protocol
The US senate approved on Wednesday an updated double taxation and tax information sharing treaty with Luxembourg (and several other countries) that was agreed in 2009. Sources: New York Times, Reuters and MNE Tax.
Boeing outlines 737 Max financial hit
Boeing will take a $4.9bn after-tax charge to cover the cost of grounded 737 Max aircraft when it announces second quarter financial results on 24 July. Sources: BBC, Deutsche Welle and Financial Times.
Microsoft beats expectations
Microsoft posted better-than-expected revenue and earnings per share, largely driven by growth in its cloud business. Sources: CNBC, Financial Times and Reuters.
On the market
Yves Bouvier, majority owner of the Luxembourg Freeport secure storage facility, has reportedly put the Singapore Freeport up for sale. Source: Bloomberg.
Later today
Trade & investment: 12th Taiwan-Luxembourg Joint Business Council, in Taipei. Earnings: State Street. Nature: It’s International Bat Night, in Bastendorf from 6pm to 11:30pm.
Looking ahead
Sunday 21 July: Ladies’ cricket day in Walferdange, 11am-7pm. Tuesday 23 July: Deadline to enter Delano’s drawing for Congés Annulés tickets is 11am. Tuesday 23 July: Reinet Investments earnings.
Here are 6 science & technology stories you may have missed
Privacy: Faceapp has been criticised for saving user pictures without permission; its CEO said, “Most images are deleted from our servers within 48 hours from the upload date,” per The Guardian. Space, part 1: The radio spectrum used by satellites is getting crowded, which may dampen growth in the cubesat sector, per MIT Technology Review. Space, part 2: The BBC featured “The most beautiful photos taken on the Apollo 11 mission”. R&D: Facial recognition technology trial led by London’s police force only produced a correct match 8 out of 42 times, per The Register. Career paths: Nautilus met Fotini Markopoulou, who went from top quantum physics researcher to chief designer at a mood watch startup. Tribots: Swiss researchers have developed small robots that are essentially walking circuit boards, per Ars Technica.
Bad plan
No, seriously, don’t try to storm Area 51. Sources: Wired, NBC News and the Independent.
Travel guide
Researchers have produced a new London Tube map indicating the cheapest pint of beer near each station. Source: City Am.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Aaron Grunwald