Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
China and Africa discuss trade imbalances. President Xi Jinping reiterated his commitment to trade reforms and building “an open world economy” ahead of a two-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Kyrgyzstan hosts the Nomad Games. Dubbed the “Olympics of the Eurasian Steppe,” the five-day event will see dozen of countries, including goodwill teams from the UK and US, compete in sports like archery and wrestling.
Myanmar rules on press freedom. A verdict is expected in a trial against two Reuters journalists accused of collecting state secrets. Protestors marched over the weekend in support of Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who had been investigating the murder of Rohingya Muslim men when they were arrested.
Over the weekend
The US mourned two greats. Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was remembered for her incredible talent and civil rights work in a ceremony which included a procession of 100 pink Cadillacs, while in a memorial service Saturday, former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama praised the late US senator John McCain’s strong moral compass, and stressed the importance of bipartisanship.
The Middle East reacted to US aid cuts. Palestinian officials slammed the US’s decision to no longer donate to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. The Trump administration also announced its decision to withhold $300 million from its Coalition Support Funds for Pakistan—days before US secretary of state Mike Pompeo is scheduled to visit Islamabad.
A prominent Chinese business executive was arrested in Minnesota. Liu Qiangdong, the CEO of online retailer JD.com, was detained Friday for alleged sexual misconduct (paywall) but released the next day. The company issued a statement calling accusations against Liu “unsubstantiated.” Law enforcement has yet to comment.
The US warned of LinkedIn breaches. US counter-intelligence chief William Evanina said the Microsoft-owned professional social network was being used by Chinese spies to obtain sensitive US government and corporate information; LinkedIn said it had purged nearly 40 fake accounts in response.
Nicaragua expelled a UN human rights team. The UN’s Central America office was told to close after publishing a report detailing recent violent clashes between protesters and authorities that have left more than 300 dead. President Daniel Ortega has defended a crackdown on protests.
Quartz obsession interlude
Gwynn Guilford on the sports drink of choice for ancient Rome. “The Romans were famed for their innovations in military logistics. But an army can’t win if it’s thirsty. Enter posca. This blend of vinegar and water—though sometimes salt, herbs, and other stuff—holds a special place in beverage history thanks to its role as the Gatorade of the Roman army.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The world has underestimated China’s scientific power. Its share of global scientific output rises substantially if you include the work of Chinese scientists abroad.
Teslas just aren’t cool. The electric vehicle maker’s street cred lags way behind other carmakers if you’re using hip-hop and R&B as a metric.
Amazon’s pricing tactics are a trap. Its behavior is reminiscent of the lending practices (paywall) that preceded the 2008 crash.
Surprising discoveries
Airports are using algorithms to detect lithium-ion batteries. Their presence in air cargo has led to at least 200 fires or explosions in the last 20 years.
US back-to-school shopping now includes bulletproof backpacks. An Israeli company touting military-grade bags has found a customer base in US parents fearful of school shootings.
Being able to drink milk as adults is a relatively new accomplishment. It’s just one of the few ways human beings are mutating in surprising ways.
A US beauty retailer is selling kits for aspiring witches. Sephora’s “Starter Witch Kit” comes with Tarot cards, sage, and a rose quartz crystal.
A ninth planet could be lurking behind Neptune. Scientists searching for proof of the mysterious “Planet Nine” believe it could weigh up to 20 times the Earth’s mass.
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