Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Argentina tries to contain its currency crisis… Finance minister Nicolas Dujovne will announce new measures to cut spending ahead of his meeting with IMF head Christine Lagarde tomorrow. Local media reports suggest that 13 government ministries will be merged or axed. Last week, the central bank raised a key interest rate to 60% and asked the IMF to speed up payments for a $50 billion loan.
…while the Turkish lira gets a reality check. As emerging-market currencies get battered, analysts expect Turkey to report that inflation in August had increased to 17.6% annually (paywall), up from 15.85% the previous month and far above the central bank’s 5% target. The lira has lost around 40% of its value this year. Thailand and Indonesia will also release their inflation figures today.
China and Africa discuss trade imbalances. Chinese president Xi Jinping reiterated his commitment to trade reforms and building “an open world economy” ahead of the two-day Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Over the weekend
A Myanmar court sentenced two journalists to seven years in prison. Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were found guilty of breaking a colonial-era law on state secrets. Press-freedom advocates, the UN, European Union, US, and other countries have called for the journalists’ acquittal. In a statement, Reuters’s editor-in-chief called the verdict “a major step backward in Myanmar’s transition to democracy.”
A massive fire destroyed Brazil’s 200-year-old National Museum. Once a palace for emperors, the museum in Rio de Janeiro contained more than 20 million artifacts, including Greco-Roman art and some of the first fossils found in Brazil. “Two hundred years of work, research and knowledge were lost,” said president Michel Temer on Sunday.
Venezuela raised its minimum wage by over 3,000%. Nicolas Maduro is hoping the new minimum wage will rein in hyperinflation, which experts warn could hit 1 million percent this year. Small-business owners worry the wage increase will drive them out of business.
Nicaragua expelled a UN human rights team. The UN’s Central America human rights office was told to close after publishing a report detailing repression, torture, and abuse of protesters by the government. More than 300 people have died in violent clashes between protesters and authorities since April.
The US mourned two greats. Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin was remembered for her talent and civil-rights work in a ceremony on Friday that included a procession of 100 pink Cadillacs, while in a memorial service on Saturday, former US presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama praised the late senator John McCain’s strong moral compass, and stressed the importance of bipartisanship.
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.
John McCain’s funeral was the biggest resistance meeting yet. Two former presidents and one eloquent daughter teamed up to rebuke Trump’s leadership (paywall).
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.
Surprising discoveries
A beauty retailer is selling kits for aspiring witches. Sephora’s Starter Witch Kit comes with tarot cards, sage, and a rose quartz crystal.
Back-to-school shopping lists in the US include bulletproof backpacks. An Israeli company touting military-grade bags has found a customer base in parents fearful of school shootings.
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.
A ninth planet could be lurking behind Neptune. Scientists searching for the mysterious “Planet Nine” (paywall) believe it could weigh up to 20 times the Earth’s mass.
Elon Musk is part of a Bangkok exhibit on the Thai cave rescue. A painting of his face stands alongside a 10-meter (33-foot) replica tunnel in an upscale shopping mall.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, ancient sports drinks, and Tesla rap lyrics to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Alice Truong and edited by Maria Thomas.