Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A strike in Hong Kong. Protestors have called for a two-day general strike in sectors ranging from aviation to finance to tourism. Cathay Pacific, under pressure from Beijing, warned it will fire employees caught participating.
“Stop the coup” rallies in the UK. In a continuation of protests held the past two days, demonstrators in various cities will march against the suspension of Parliament, recently announced by prime minister Boris Johnson ahead of the nation’s exit from the EU.
Hurricane Dorian’s path. Forecasters predict the monster storm will spare the Florida coast a direct hit but still cause problems with rain, winds, and storm surges. It made landfall in the Bahamas Sunday with record-breaking wind speeds.
US markets will be closed for Labor Day.
Over the weekend
Trump’s trade war intensified… New tariffs imposed on a wide swath of made-in-China products went into effect. Items ranging from furniture to chocolates to Apple Watches will be affected by the added tax, to the chagrin of retailers. China responded with retaliatory tariffs.
…and Beijing signaled more support for an ailing economy. China’s State Council said Sunday the government will do more to reform capital markets and open the financial sector, as well as invest in infrastructure projects and regional development.
Germany’s far-right AfD surged in regional elections. Exit polls suggest the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland party made strong gains in Saxony and Brandenburg, placing second in both though failing to oust the mainstream parties. The Greens also did well.
Texas endured another mass shooting. A gunman opened fire during a routine traffic stop, starting a rampage that killed seven people and injured more than 20 others. The incident followed another shooting in the state last month that took 22 lives.
Tennis stars modeled good behavior. Japan’s Naomi Osaka beat 15-year-old US Open favorite Coco Gauff, then invited her back on court to compliment her game on camera. It’s a far cry from the trolling we’ve seen between veteran rivals Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.
Quartz Obsession
Ranch is the dressing we love (and love to hate). It might be the most American of foods—overseas, the flavor goes by “American” instead of ranch—and is by far the most popular dressing in the country. Beyond salads, it’s a go-to for wings, wraps, pizza, and even mixing with salsa, as Pete Buttigieg will tell you. Some chefs will fess up to a love for it, and it’s even finding its way onto menus beyond the chains responsible for its dominance. Take a taste at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Join the conversation on the Quartz app!
Americans should purchase used stuff during the trade war. Trump’s tariffs won’t have much effect on secondhand items.
Oversized women’s clothing can help fight inequality. Space-occupying looks emphasize a woman’s right to be in the room.
Union pushes could transform white-collar work in the US. Banks, museums, media outlets, and tech companies are among the many places seeing increased support for unions.
Surprising discoveries
Netflix won’t let you binge-watch one particular thing. For the latest season of The Great British Baking Show, it insists you savor one weekly episode at a time.
A Filipino artist creates mosaics with dead leaves and garlic peels. Pando’s mind-boggling works are being shown at the Philippine Consulate in New York.
A planet three times bigger than Jupiter has an extreme-distance “whiplash orbit.” Astronomers have never seen anything like the newly discovered exoplanet’s path.
Hong Kong police are shooting blue-dyed water at protestors. Demonstrators, in turn, are using baking soda and alcoholic wipes to remove the stains.
A new kind of cybercrime uses AI and your voice against you. A $243,000 voice fraud case shows how well it works.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, peculiar orbits, and ranch-dressing recipes to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Steve Mollman and Clarissa Pharr.