Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Japan’s GDP number are released. Analysts expect that the economy grew for a sixth consecutive quarter. Japan hasn’t see a growth streak like this since 2006, but it’s a tepid one—the quarterly growth rate is hovering around 0.5%.
Trump ramps up pressure on China. The US president has asked his top trade adviser to determine if Chinese trade practices that force U.S. firms in China to turn over intellectual property are unfair. The move could ultimately lead to tariffs.
Inflation and jobs numbers in the UK. July consumer price index numbers are expected to be disappointing, as prices continue to outstrip pay. Wage growth in the UK has been stalled, and the Bank of England has expressed concerns about growing consumer credit card debt.
Over the weekend
The FBI investigated violence at a white nationalist rally turned deadly. A 32-year-old woman was killed after a car plowed into a crowd of counter-protesters at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. At least 19 people were injured and two police troopers also lost their lives in a helicopter accident. US President Trump is being criticized for his weak response to the chaos, after failing to condemnation neo-Nazi violence.
Bitcoin hit a new superlative. The cryptocurrency surged to over $4,000 this weekend. As global geopolitical tensions rise, Bitcoin is acting like a disaster hedge, much like gold. It’s also moving into the mainstream as financial services company like Fidelity are now allowing clients to view their holdings in digital currencies.
The US insisted that war with North Korea isn’t imminent. CIA Director Mike Pompeo and national security adviser H.R. McMaster hit the Sunday talk shows to soften US President Donald Trump’s narrative that the US military is “locked and loaded” should North Korea decide to take military action. This should make talks between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday a lot less awkward.
Heartbreak at a hospital in India. The head of a government hospital was fired on Sunday, after 60 children died from lack of oxygen—a number officials expect to rise. The hospital’s supply of liquid oxygen was disrupted by a vendor because of an unpaid bill. Parents who lost children said they they were given self-inflating bags as the oxygen ran out.
Latin America condemned Trump’s military threat. Venezuela shot down the US president’s talk of a potential “military option” to fix the country’s shattered democracy. The threat could actually bolster president Nicholas Maduro’s hand, and is sure to dominate the conversation as US vice president Mike Pence tours Latin America.
Quartz obsession interlude
Adam Epstein on a mission to bring back an optimistic sci-fi. “I miss the forward thinking, aspirational, optimistic place in science fiction that Star Trek used to occupy,” Seth MacFarlane told a group of TV critics . “I’m tired of being told that everything is going to be grim and dystopian and people are going to be murdering each other for food.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Arm wrestling is a legitimate sport. It dates back to ancient Egypt and is experiencing a professional sports renaissance.
Skyscrapers have made China more beautiful. A photographer makes his case with 17 drone photos.
Kim Jong-un is acting like a CEO. The North Korean leader is implementing his vision and treating the country like a corporation.
Surprising discoveries
A immigration algorithm decided Irish isn’t English. An Irish woman failed to convince a machine she could speak English fluently while seeking permanent residency in Australia.
Alcohol helps goldfish survive long winters. Higher blood-alcohol content helps them live in oxygenless waters for months.
Harry Potter fans in Asia are endangering owls. More than 13,000 wild-caught owls were sold as pets in Indonesia in 2016.
Human poop is could be a sustainable cooking fuel. A Kenyan company is transforming fecal waste into charcoal-like briquettes.
The UAE banned soy sauce for its alcohol content. Some products may be about 2% alcohol due to the natural fermentation process.
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