Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The Bank of England tries to avert its first strike in 50 years. The central bank will meet with union representatives in hopes of heading off a three-day strike over wages for maintenance and security staff. If the talks fail, the strike will begin tomorrow.
The US mulls oil sanctions after Venezuela’s controversial vote. Amid violent protests where at least 10 died, president Nicolás Maduro pushed ahead with an vote on Sunday to form a new assembly that could rewrite the country’s constitution—widely condemned as a step towards dictatorship. The White House is expected to announce sanctions on Venezuelan oil imports to the US as early as today, according to Reuters.
Jury deliberations begin in the Martin Shkreli trial. US federal prosecutors argue that Shkreli, who ran two hedge funds along with the pharmaceutical company Retrophin, cheated investors in a Ponzi-like scheme. He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Over the weekend
Russia retaliated against the latest US sanctions. On Sunday, Russian president Vladimir Putin retaliated against new sanctions imposed by the US last week by ordering the US embassy to cut 755 personnel from its staff. He said Russia has additional options up its sleeve, but “I hope it will not come to this.”
Donald Trump slammed China over North Korea’s missile tests. Trump tweeted on Saturday that China’s leaders are doing “nothing” to help rein in North Korea, which on Friday test-launched a missile capable of hitting the US. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson accused Russia and China of being North Korea’s “principal economic enablers.”
Heineken toasted a fizzy first half. The world’s second-largest brewer beat expectations with an almost 6% jump in first-half profit, thanks to Europeans quenching their summer thirst and Asian consumers shelling out for more expensive brands. The Dutch brewer is also expanding in Africa, investing in Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo in particular.
Elon Musk handed over the keys to Tesla’s Model 3. The first 30 owners of Tesla’s long-awaited $35,000 vehicle drove their cars home after a launch event at the company’s factory in California. Tesla hopes the Model 3—getting rave reviews so far—will be the first electric car bought by millions in the US and Europe.
China and Russia cracked down on anonymous web surfing. Apple confirmed it had removed virtual private network (VPN) software from its China app store in order to comply with a new law that bans all VPNs operating without government approval. In Russia, president Vladimir Putin signed a new law that prohibits the use of VPNs and other technologies that allow people to hide their IP addresses.
Quartz obsession interlude
Melody Wilding on the confidence myth. “The truth is that confidence isn’t an innate trait; it’s a quality gained through experience. So we should take risks in order to build confidence—not the other way around.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Elon Musk should stop running Tesla. Passing the torch would free up Musk to put his visionary talents to better use.
Paid parental leave has bipartisan appeal. Republicans and Democrats come to the same conclusion: The US needs to pay parents for time off after the birth of their children.
The American South is more diverse than most people assume. Pop culture tends to depict the South as a bastion of white conservatives, but the reality is far richer and more complex.
Surprising discoveries
Millennials don’t have any special tech superpowers. So-called “digital natives” are no more adept at smartphones and computers than older generations.
Finnish scientists are using electricity to make food. Zapping protein powder into existence could be a step toward addressing world hunger.
The US Department of Defense wants a better way to vet social science. The goal is to develop a system that can help separate credible research from unreliable studies.
A record-holding 17th-century pub is for sale. Perched at 1,735 feet, the Tan Hill Inn in Swaledale, Yorkshire is the highest watering hole in the UK.
Alcohol may be the culprit behind teenage obesity. A study showed that 39% of high schoolers in Canada admitted to drinking five or more alcoholic beverages per night once a month—which adds up to a lot of calories.
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