Hello, Quartz readers! Our apologies for the delay in sending today’s Daily Brief, due to technical issues.
What to watch for today
SoftBank delivers its first-quarter report card. Investors will be listening (paywall) for hints of the Japanese tech giant’s potential stake in Uber, given its existing holdings in the ride-hailing company’s rivals, as well as possible plans to spur US wireless consolidation.
Kenya braces for election day. The country will be on high alert ahead of a tense contest on Nov. 8 between former prime minister Raila Odinga and president Uhuru Kenyatta. On Sunday, Odinga said his party was working against an alleged plot to tamper with results.
The US pressures North Korea at ASEAN. The question is how much the US’s Rex Tillerson and his North Korean counterpart, foreign minister Ri Yong-ho, will interact at the regional forum in Manila, given tensions over Pyongyang’s testing of missiles and nuclear weapons.
Over the weekend
Venezuela’s government put down a soldier uprising. After months of protests, the army said it suppressed an uprising against president Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, Leopoldo Lopez, a popular Venezuelan politician, was released from military prison (paywall) after military intelligence took him from his home on Aug. 1.
Pressure mounted against Trump possibly firing Robert Mueller. Democratic senator Chris Coons of Delaware joined a chorus of lawmakers threatening a bipartisan backlash if the US president tries to oust the special counsel charged with investigating Russian election tampering.
Another Fox News host went down. Eric Bolling of Cashin’ In, a vocal supporter of Trump, was suspended due to claims that he sent women unwanted lewd texts. Bolling’s lawyer has has denied the allegations, amid multiple allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct at the network.
The UN slapped North Korea with severe sanctions. The Security Council unanimously agreed to impose its most financially punitive sanctions yet to stop the regime’s nuclear ambitions. The sanctions, introduced by US ambassador Nikki Haley, will cut the country’s exports by roughly $1 billion, or a third of annual export revenue.
Vladimir Putin went topless in Siberia. Russian state television released footage of the national leader romping topless on vacation, while fishing in an inflatable boat. Last week the Russian president hunted fish underwater with a speargun.
Quartz obsession interlude
Ephrat Livni on the feminist origins of the most offensive English curse word. “Cursing is a good way to be bad. It’s mostly harmless and signals authenticity to listeners. For the linguistically bold, vulgarity is just one element of a rich vocabulary, a spice for speech. Yet even those of us who curse like sailors shirk the word ‘cunt.'” Read more here.
Matters of debate
100% renewable energy is a lie. Cities and states around the US have pledged to do it. But the science isn’t there (paywall).
It’s time to ditch the term “Bridezilla.” Ever notice Groomzilla (paywall) isn’t a thing? Only women get slapped with this nasty moniker.
Vegetarians are their own worst enemies. A little more flexibility would go a long way in encouraging others to eat less meat.
Surprising discoveries
Two Chinese tourists were arrested in Berlin for saluting Hitler. The middle-aged men didn’t get the memo on Germany’s strict laws against hate speech and symbols.
Phone notifications take a long-term psychological toll. The pings are so addictive that researchers struggled to recruit people for their experiment.
Dunkin’ Donuts is over the word ‘Donuts.’ The company thinks dumping the reference to sugary food could help it transform into Starbucks.
Game of Thrones used cheap IKEA rugs as capes. And that’s despite being one of the most expensive television shows in history.
There’s a biological explanation for “happiness hangovers.” Our tendency to crash after euphoric experiences was likely a way to fend off threats like predators.
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