Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman visits Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow. They’ll likely talk about oil. The fossil-fuel superpowers and longtime antagonists have made an unexpected rapprochement: The Saudis are no longer demanding the removal of the Russia-backed Syrian regime, and Russia has toned down criticism of Riyadh’s operations in Yemen.
JK Rowling’s newest book leads the literary pack on Super Thursday. The publishing world’s biggest release date also coincides with the announcement of the 2017 Nobel literature prize.
Flipkart and Amazon launch dueling pre-Diwali sales events in India. The Indian e-commerce firm is rolling out “Festive Dhamaka Days” in an attempt to outdo Amazon’s “Great Indian Festival,” with steep discounts on smartphones, electronics, and furniture.
While you were sleeping
Google just put AI everywhere with an armada of new gadgets. The devices include a new smartphone, real-time language translating earbuds, and a camera that automatically takes a picture when it recognizes a familiar face. Most are centered around Alphabet’s artificial intelligence and machine-learning software.
South Korea agreed to amend its trade deal with the United States. US president Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw from the deal, known as Korus, if South Korea doesn’t agree to terms that would reduce America’s growing trade deficit with the country. Seoul had previously been reluctant to change the five-year-old pact.
Investigators revealed another chemical weapons incident in Syria. Soil samples proved the use of sarin in an assault that took place in the country’s north in late March, five days before the attack on Khan Sheikhun, said the watchdog Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The latter incident prompted a US missile strike on the airbase from which it was launched.
GM’s test fleet of self-driving cars in California more than doubled in size. The automotive giant’s Cruise Automation unit said it had increased the number of vehicles registered for testing to 100, up from 30 to 40 previously. Investors are watching closely as the company develops software able to handle chaotic urban environments.
Quartz obsession interlude
Angus Hervey on why there’s no Nobel prize in technology. “In an age when technology is intimately interwoven in almost every aspect of our lives, those who come up with new ways of using technology to make the world a better place deserve just as much recognition as the scientists, doctors, peacemakers, economists, and writers who we’re celebrating this week.” Read more here.
Markets haiku
Hark! Trump has spoken / PR debt may disappear / Bond traders: “We out.”
Matters of debate
We need a new word for TV. More people are watching than ever, but the lines between streaming video, TV shows, and movies are getting blurry.
Starbucks should give its baristas as much parental leave as its corporate staff. Unequal benefits corrode morale and expose the company to lawsuits and lost productivity.
Right-wing political groups rely on Islamic terror for support. The immediate branding of mass shooters as devout Muslims enables them to whip up public rage.
Surprising discoveries
Norway wants to bury other countries’ carbon in its backyard. State-owned Gassnova uses carbon capture and storage to bury greenhouse gases beneath the continental shelf.
Hollywood is helping surgeons practice brain surgery. The special effects group behind Watchmen and other movies contributed to a more realistic training program at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Santa Claus’s ancient tomb was discovered in Turkey. The suspected 1,674-year-old remains of Saint Nicholas were found beneath the ruins of an ancient church.
People walked differently in medieval times. Before solid shoes hit the scene in the 16th century, people pushed up on the balls of their feet like ballet dancers.
“Love” is not a permitted ingredient in granola. US regulators chastised a Massachusetts bakery for its heartfelt labeling.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, granola love, and medieval walking shoes to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android.