Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
A snapshot of the US job market. Economists expect the Labor Department to report 164,000 new jobs in July, below June’s 224,000, but still the longest consecutive month of gains on record. Unemployment, near historic lows, is expected to stay flat.
Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló steps down. It’s unclear who will take his place. Former congressman Pedro Pierluisi, who Rosselló nominated as secretary of state—making him next in line as governor—faces political obstacles, while justice secretary Wanda Vázquez has already passed on the job.
A treaty that helped end the Cold War is dead. Today marks the end of the US withdrawal, announced by the Trump administration in February, from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which banned certain nuclear and conventional ground-launched missiles.
Mike Pompeo goes Down Under. The secretary of state wraps up his Asia-Pacific tour with a visit to Australia and Micronesia this weekend, following an appearance at the ASEAN meeting in Bangkok. Iran is expected to be a “headline issue” during talks in Sydney.
While you were sleeping
Trump’s tweets sent global markets tumbling. After the US president announced plans to impose fresh tariffs of 10% on another $300 billion of Chinese goods starting Sept. 1, US stock exchanges fell about 1%, while Asian share prices dove this morning. The surprise move may force the Fed to cut rates more than it had planned.
The US considered more migrant-curbing deals. Acting Homeland Security chief Kevin McAleenan is looking into potential deals with El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Panama that would force those journeying through to request asylum there. Critics say a similar deal signed with Guatemala came after intense pressure by the US.
North Korea fired yet more missiles. In the country’s third launch in eight days, two projectiles that appear to be a new type of short-range missile were launched in the early hours of this morning, according to South Korea. Trump told reporters he had “no problem” with the missile tests.
Saudi Arabia lifted some restrictions on adult women. They will now be able to apply for a passport for foreign travel without permission from a male guardian, and to register childbirths, marriages, and divorce. It’s a major milestone in the fight for gender equality in the kingdom.
Toyota prepared to slow down. Despite a robust first quarter, the Japanese automaker warned its full-year profit would fall (paywall) for the first time in four years, due to the US-China trade spat and the prospect of a no-deal Brexit.
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Two forces have ruled the global art market since its inception—Western money, and Western eyes. This week in our field guide, we examined China’s disruption of these historic realities. Reporter Annalisa Merelli tracks the meteoric rise of Chinese contemporary art, which is unlikely to be replicated elsewhere anytime soon, and illustrates how “elegant bribery” can contribute to inflated art prices and provide a nice shield for money laundering.
Quartz Obsession
After over 500 years of trying, man finally made the Arctic a shipping route. And we did it through climate change. While the Northwest and Northeast Passages are unlikely to surpass routes through the Suez and Panama Canals, they’re getting busier as Arctic routes go ice-free more often. And it’s not exactly going to thaw diplomatic relations. Explore the region at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Higher plus-size pricing is bad form. It’s also bad business.
AI systems should be able to own patents. The argument that only humans can innovate is outdated.
Universities should offer cannabis programs. The $14 billion global market for legal marijuana is short on qualified applicants.
Surprising discoveries
Action stars don’t want to lose fights. Demands for equal “muscle time” are a pain for Fast & Furious fight choreographers.
Lab mice are too clean. Inbreeding in sanitized labs has created test subjects without normal ranges of microbes.
Workout clothes could soon smell better than you do. A new fabric emits a citronella scent when it comes into contact with sweat.
AI can spot queue jumpers. Facial recognition technology can now help bartenders prioritize who is first to the bar.
A North Korean soldier was mistaken for a river heat spot. A mysterious thermal reading in the Imjin river turned out to be a rare defection.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cannabis program syllabi, and fragrant clothes 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 Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof.