Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Boris Johnson’s first visit to Wales as prime minister. The UK leader will visit a farm in south Wales and promise that agriculture will continue to thrive even after a no-deal Brexit, following a warning from the president of a farmer’s union of “civil unrest” if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement.
A$AP Rocky goes on trial in Sweden. American rapper Rakim Mayers was charged with assault following a confrontation in Stockholm in July, despite Trump’s attempts to intervene in the case. His lawyer insists Mayers had acted in self-defense.
Round two of the Democratic presidential primary debate. The first of two debates in this latest round, hosted by CNN, will kick off at 8 pm EDT. Two liberal front-runners, senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, will face off, alongside eight other candidates.
The US and China try again. Trade representatives from both nations resume talks in a two-day meeting in Shanghai, starting with dinner at the Fairmont Peace Hotel. Neither side is expecting much to come of the discussion.
Apple and Huawei check in. Apple’s up against a rough quarter as it attempts to find a way to make up for slowing iPhone sales. Huawei will post first-half results, buoyed—despite US bans—by staff who managed to secure critical supplies.
While you were sleeping
Australia ordered an investigation into Crown casinos. Revelations published over the weekend by Australian media allege that casino operator Crown Resorts has links to Asian organized crime. Attorney general Christian Porter has referred the allegations to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.
The founder of Indian chain Cafe Coffee Day has gone missing. A search is underway in the city of Mangalore for VG Siddhartha, founder and owner of the country’s largest coffee franchise. He was last seen by his driver before he went for a walk near a river and did not return.
A hacker stole data from over 100 million US and Canadian customers. Sensitive information including Social Security and bank account numbers from credit applications was compromised in one of the biggest-ever data breaches. A 33-year-old suspect has been arrested on a single count of computer fraud and abuse.
A prison riot in Brazil left at least 57 dead. The hours-long battle between rival gangs in a prison in the Amazon resulted in 16 decapitations and dozens who perished from asphyxiation in smoke from burning mattresses. Gang clashes and riots in Brazilian prisons are frequent.
Russia’s opposition leader claimed he has never had an allergy. Alexei Navalny, detained for calling for unauthorized protests, was taken to hospital on Sunday with swelling and rashes but has since been returned to jail, where he wrote a blog post questioning reports that he suffered an acute allergic reaction. His personal doctor suggested he may have been exposed to an unidentified “toxic agent.”
The Gilroy Garlic Festival shooter was identified. The 19-year-old allegedly cut a wire fence and entered the festival in California with a semiautomatic rifle he purchased legally in Nevada, killing three people, including two children. Police are still investigating his motive and whether he had an accomplice, as some witnesses claim.
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Our deep dive this week focuses on the modern art economy and how China became a global art powerhouse seemingly overnight. Geopolitics reporter Annalisa Merelli reports on what propelled the growth, what kind of art China makes, buys, and sells, and, as with so much in China, what role the state plays. We also have three member conference calls scheduled this week, starting with Quartz tech editor Mike Murphy talking today about the competitive war for cloud services.
Quartz Obsession
Need a break? Try a fika. The Swedish coffee ritual is a deliberate respite from work to catch up with friends, family, or colleagues on anything but their jobs—and it seems to make Swedes more productive. But once it becomes a conscious productivity hack, it becomes a chore, defeating the purpose of the fika. Meditate on the contradiction at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Transhumanism needs its own annual prize. The award would recognize efforts in longevity and help democratize the movement to conquer death.
Leave the hairdryer; take the conditioner. There are some things you just shouldn’t swipe from a hotel room.
Hollywood can still make good movies. Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood shows that films can take risks and turn a profit.
Surprising discoveries
Greta Thunberg is sailing across the Atlantic to attend climate conferences. The young Swedish activist was offered an emission-free ride aboard the Malizia II.
Slipping on banana peels is no joke… Back in 19th century New York, pedestrians got seriously injured from their pratfalls.
…But the prices the JW Marriott charges for bananas must be. After Bollywood actor Rahul Bose’s viral tweet about being overcharged for fruit, brands across India are having a marketing field day.
Half a billion people in China watched the NBA’s latest season. That’s more than one-third of the country’s population, nearly triple that of the 2014-15 season.
Robotic contact lenses are here. The devices allow users to zoom in by blinking, and may pave the way for prosthetic eyes.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, emission-free transport, and luxury bananas to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.