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This morning’s 3-by-3 travels across a child marriage ban in Sierra Leone, a devastating hurricane headed to Mexico, a Taylor Swift-inspired city name in Germany, and more. Let’s fly!

Politics

• Biden refuses to drop out amid pressures

After days of acknowledging his poor debate performance, the considerable Democratic panic it caused, and recent pressures to suspend his candidacy, President Biden declared his unwavering confidence on a Wednesday call with campaign staffers: “I am running… no one’s pushing me out… I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.” Biden has sought advice on his path forward from Congressional leaders such as Senator Chris Coons of Delaware and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and he organized a “candid” meeting with over 20 Democratic governors such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul who all left pledging their continued support. Still, concerns remain high from donors like Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings and heiress Abigail Disney, Rep. Jim Clyburn (who suggested the party should hold a mini-primary for Vice President Kamala Harris and notable governors to compete in becoming the replacement nominee), and the general public — with a CNN-commissioned poll finding that ¾ of all voters, including a majority of Democratic voters, believe the Democratic Party would have a better chance of winning the presidency if Biden is replaced.

• Shanghai Cooperation Organization displays Eastern unity

Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi met for two days at the Shangai Cooperation Organization (SCO) annual summit in Kazakhstan, leading a grouping that their countries jointly created in 2001 to discuss security concerns in Central Asia and counter Western alliances like the G7 — current members of the SCO include Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. Putin called the SCO “one of the key pillars of a fair, multipolar world order” as he sought to present Russia as widely supported despite Western sanctions, while Xi encouraged solidarity against a Cold War mentality from the West that threatens to intervene in and polarize their nations. The U.N. Secretary-General was present as the United Nations aims to be more inclusive of Eastern blocs, but Indian Prime Minister Modi was notably not in attendance — with experts speculating that he is likely balancing these alliances with India’s interests in America.

• Sierra Leone bans child marriage in human rights fight

In a West African country where nearly one-third of girls are married before adulthood, Sierra Leona has passed a new law to protect future generations — criminalizing those who marry any girl under 18 with 15 years in prison and/or a $4000 fine and imposing punishments on witnesses of such marriages as well. There are around 800,000 child brides in Sierra Leone, and President Julius Maada Bio has praised this measure in his broader commitment to creating a nation where girls are “protected, equal, and empowered.” The ending of child marriage is an ongoing human rights effort across the globe and a central United Nations goal in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as one in every 5 girls today is married before adulthood.

Business

• Hurricane Beryl shuts down Mexican tourist destination

After wrecking the eastern Caribbean with its unprecedented rapid growth, Hurricane Beryl has reached Mexico’s coastal Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 2 storm — forcing resorts, hotels, and local businesses across the tourist-full region to close. Owners in Playa del Carmen and Tulum were seen boarding up their windows and evacuating all guests yesterday amid 110 mph winds, projecting that tourists will not return to the premises until July 10. Beryl has caused 9 deaths to date and destroyed almost everything in its path, including 95% of the houses in the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, countless fishing boats in Barbados, and Jamaican infrastructure leaving 60% of the island without electricity.

• Morocco blossoms as a key site for EV production

As the global electric vehicle race continues, Morocco has become an attractive site for Chinese firms aiming to qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act — a $430 billion law signed by Biden in August 2022 which offers $7,500 tax credits to EV buyers in the United States, so long as domestic automakers like Tesla and General Motors only source battery parts from manufactures in which China owns no more than 25%. At least 8 Chinese battery makers have invested in Morocco since the IRA to capitalize on its free trade agreement with the U.S. and create joint ventures that comply with the ownership regulations, such as a $2 billion venture between China’s largest battery cathode producer and the Moroccan royal family’s investment group and a $6.4 billion investment from a Chinese-German company to build Africa’s first EV battery factory. More than 250 car and car component manufacturers from China, Japan, America, and more are based in Morocco, creating a $14 billion export industry for the North African nation.

• Saks Fifth parent buys Neiman Marcus in a luxury maneuver

At a time when luxury retail has become out of touch with inflation, shifting consumer habits, and younger demographics, the parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue has acquired rival Neiman Marcus Group for $2.65 billion — aiming to reduce operating costs, offer greater designer selection, and create a more personalized, AI-powered shopping experience. The newly formed Saks Global also includes a minority stake held by Amazon, as the online giant looks to enter the luxury arena and improve the conglomerate’s e-commerce and logistics. While the deal is strengthening amid the weakening industry of luxury department stores (Macy’s has announced it will close 150 stores over the next 3 years), experts wonder if the acquisition will do much for today’s consumer who favors lower-priced goods, fully online marketplaces, and shopping at luxury brands’ own stores when buying upscale.

Culture

• German city renames itself for Taylor Swift

In preparation for 3 sold-out Eras Tour concerts from July 17-19 and the tens of thousands of local fans who plan to attend, the German city of Gelsenkirchen has renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” in Taylor Swift’s honor. Enacted by the mayor in response to a teenage fan’s petition, the popstar’s visit is a big deal for a former coal mining town and one of Germany’s poorest cities today. The concerts will take place at the 70,000-capacity Veltins-Arena on Schalke stadium and will be augmented by Swiftie signs across popular locations, a Taylor Swift-themed streetcar, and Swift herself receiving a stone on the Gelsenkirchen Walk of Fame.

• Fourth of July festivities are hindered by the heat

According to the National Weather Service, this year’s Fourth of July saw 134 million U.S. residents under an “extremely dangerous and record-breaking” heat wave — with almost all of the West Coast, most of the lower Mississippi Valley, the southern Plains, and parts of Florida experiencing 90 and above temperatures. Wildfires are burning in Phoenix and northern California, and prolonged high temperatures are expected to dry out vegetation, making the rest of fire season even more severe. In addition to the difficult weather, the historical pattern of July 4 gun violence continued with a police officer in Cleveland and 2 women in Chicago being shot to death — exactly two years since a mass shooting at a Fourth of July Parade near Chicago killed 7 people.

• Jeff Bezos is selling $5 billion in Amazon shares

Amazon executive chairman Jeff Bezos is reportedly selling $5 billion worth of company shares, and there is speculation that he is considering a purchase of the Seattle Seahawks — conveniently valued at $5 billion. Owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen until his passing in 2018, the Seahawks are now in the hands of his sister Jody Allen with a mandate that she sell the team shortly and donate the earnings to to predetermined charitable causes. After speculation that he was interested in buying the Washington Commanders last year, Bezos could be making his first concrete move toward sports ownership — though the NFL would need to approve his bid given that Amazon owns Thursday Night Football’s broadcasting rights and assure there aren’t any conflicts of interest.

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