Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
John Bolton takes his hard line to London. The US national security adviser will urge Boris Johnson’s new government to align its Iran policy more closely with Washington’s. So far Britain has backed the EU in sticking with the Iran nuclear deal.
A tense Kashmir marks Eid al-Adha. Authorities have eased restrictions for the Islamic festival, including those on banks’ ATMs. India tightened security last week after abruptly announcing a decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its constitutional autonomy.
Saudi Aramco holds its first-ever earnings call. The secretive state-owned oil company will make its half-year profits public, as it continues working toward what would be the biggest IPO of all time. It shared its staggering earnings publicly for the first time in April.
Over the weekend
Hong Kong’s protests intensified… Police resorted to harsher tactics than ever, firing tear gas within subway stations and shooting rubber bullets at close range. The escalation follows the police department bringing a top officer known for toughness out of retirement.
…and so did Russia’s. In the biggest protest in years, demonstrators flooded Moscow and other cities, decrying police violence and demanding an end to political controls under Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Russia warned Google against “promoting” the rallies on YouTube.
North Korea tested new missiles, again. The country fired short-range missiles that analysts say mark significant advances and pose a potent threat to neighbors. A senior diplomat justified the launches in part by citing Donald Trump, who has played down other recent weapons tests.
Jeffrey Epstein died. The financier apparently committed suicide in a New York jail by hanging himself as questions (and conspiracy theories, including one promoted by Donald Trump) swirled about why he was left alone and unmonitored while being held on sex-trafficking charges.
Goldman Sachs weighed in on the US-China trade war. The investment bank said Sunday it doesn’t expect the tariffs tussle to be concluded before the 2020 US presidential election, and noted that fears of it leading to a recession are increasing.
Quartz Obsession
Sleeping on it. The mental, physical, and economic benefits of napping are many. Countries like Spain and China build shut-eye into the work day. In a world in which most of us get less than the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep each night, are naps the answer? The Quartz Obsession climbs under the covers to find out.
Matters of debate
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Tourists shouldn’t ride elephants. The pachyderms end up being mistreated for economic gain. (Happy World Elephant Day!)
Marathon cheater Rosie Ruiz was ahead of her time. We’ve become more tolerant of liars, and audacity is now prized as much as actual accomplishment.
Feminist capitalism has infiltrated our personal lives. Effort in relationships is now “emotional labor,” and we’re exhausted by the “second shift.”
Surprising discoveries
US agriculture is 48 times more toxic to bees than 25 years ago. Neonicotinoid pesticides are largely to blame, says a new study.
Vienna offered subway riders scented trains last month. The aromatherapy-on-rails experiment was short-lived.
J.D. Salinger’s unseen handwritten works are being digitized by his son. The reclusive author saw publishing during his lifetime as an invasion of privacy.
Chase canceled its Canadian customers’ credit-card debt. Some were still making payments on their balances, preventing the US bank from closing down its operation in the country.
Versace apologized to the Chinese government for a t-shirt. A list on the offensive garment didn’t describe Hong Kong and Macau as being part of China.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, race cheaters, and controversial garb 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 Steve Mollman and John Mancini.