Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Modi speaks up. India’s prime minister is likely to make a national address that is intended to illuminate some of the reasoning behind his government’s controversial decision to reclassify the single state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, J&K and Ladakh.
Japan allows exports to South Korea. Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry determined that certain shipments of semiconductor materials will not be used in military equipment, a stipulation Tokyo put in place on July 4, when it announced more regulations on exports to the nation.
Japan faces three major storms. Typhoon Francisco, which made landfall on Tuesday, will be followed by Typhoon Lekima in southern Japan, while Tropical Storm Krosa gathers strength in the Pacific and is forecasted to move landward by Friday.
While you were sleeping
Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India. In response to India’s parliamentary decision on Kashmir, Pakistan responded by suspending bilateral trade, canceling its new ambassador to New Delhi, and announcing it will expel India’s ambassador.
Luxembourg plans to become the first EU country to legalize cannabis. Its health ministry confirms it will draft legislation for legal recreational use within two years—while advocating for its EU neighbors to relax their drug laws. Cannabis is commonly thought to be legal in the Netherlands, but technically, weed’s still illicit there, though it’s rarely enforced.
A Russian ship was escorted through the English Channel. The UK’s Royal Navy had to scramble a new patrol ship, fresh off its first-ever foreign port trip, to intercept and track a Russian ship traveling through UK waters from celebrating Navy Days in St. Petersburg.
Puerto Rico’s new governor is out, and the new new governor is in. Pedro Pierluisi was sworn in on Friday, but the Puerto Rico Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that he did so unconstitutionally, as he had not been confirmed as secretary of state prior to taking the governorship. Secretary of justice Wanda Vázquez is now the third person to hold the office in five days.
Lyft lost less money than expected. The ride-hailing company is calling it a win, lowering its loss guidance after posting quarterly results that weren’t as low as analysts had projected. Its stock gained speed on the news, as did its money-losing competitor Uber, which shares its own earnings on Thursday.
Donald Trump cracked down on Chinese technologies. The US government told federal agencies that, as of Aug. 13, they’re prohibited from purchasing any goods or services from Huawei, ZTE, Hytera, and Hikvision. Contractors have to wrap up dealings by 2020, unless they can prove their interactions with the companies will pose no security threat.
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Quartz Obsession
It’s the end of the road for the Volkswagen Beetle. After its unlikely evolution from a Nazi invention to a foundation of postwar Europe to a symbol of the counterculture, the Bug earned the loyalty of generations for its price, efficiency, and ease of repair. But after a brief nostalgia kick from the New Beetle, it’s become another victim of the growing SUV and crossover market. Take a look in the rear-view mirror with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Get rid of artificial grass. The multi-billion-dollar market in plastic grass is only green in color.
Music festivals are working towards equal gender representation. But quotas may do more harm than good.
China says it won’t back down. But will the country use a move worth $1.1 trillion in the US-China trade war?
Surprising discoveries
Staring down seagulls stops them from stealing your food. They find the human gaze terrifying.
Happy 50th, Abbey Road cover photo. Beatles fans plan to walk the iconic crosswalk to mark the occasion in London on Thursday.
A scientist baked bread with 5,000-year-old yeast found in ancient Egyptian ceramics. The yeast was more active, and the bread smelled like caramel.
Yosemite’s sporting pink snow. The coloring at high altitudes is the result of a defense-mechanism against heat and UV rays.
Child-sized parrots once roamed New Zealand. However, the birds from 19 million years ago were too big to fly.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, intimidating birds, and intimidated birds to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and Patrick deHahn.