Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Boris Johnson meets with Leo Varadkar. The UK prime minister will hold “detailed discussions” in England with his Irish counterpart on the process of securing a Brexit deal. Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will give a speech saying his party is ready and “champing at the bit” for an early election, and also accused Johnson of “using the Queen” to win support.
US-China trade talks resume in Washington. The two-day meeting, the first high-level talks in two months, is unlikely to result in much more than a postponement of tariffs, which take effect next week. China is reportedly open to a partial deal, which may include a currency pact, if the US nixes the next rounds of tariffs.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets play ball in China. The game in Shanghai is still scheduled to take place this evening, amid this week’s turmoil surrounding the NBA in China after the Houston Rockets’ general manger tweeted his support for Hong Kong’s protests.
The Nobel Prize in literature. Two winners will be named because the award was suspended last year as a result of a sexual assault scandal. Among the favorites this year are Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Anne Carson, Russian novelist Lyudmila Ulitskaya, and Chinese writer Can Xue.
While you were sleeping
Apple removed a Hong Kong protest map app from its app store. In what appears to be a reaction to pressure from the Chinese government, the company accused the recently approved app of being used in ways that “endanger law enforcement” and residents. Apple also recently removed the Quartz app from its Chinese app store.
Donald Trump called Turkey’s Syria offensive a “bad idea.” Hours after Ankara began its attack on US–allied Kurds, the president issued a statement saying it did not “endorse” the incursion. Trump had faced criticism for pulling back troops from northern Syria—but he’s not bringing them home. The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors today to discuss the invasion.
Iraq’s prime minister offered new concessions to protesters. Adel Abdul-Mahdi reshuffled his cabinet, declared three days of mourning, and said those who fired on protesters would be punished—but the measures are unlikely to make a difference.
A US counterterrorism analyst was charged with leaking classified materials. Henry Kyle Frese is accused of disclosing sensitive national security information about a foreign country’s weapons system to two journalists “for personal gain,” the Department of Justice said in a statement.
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The US military is the world’s largest consumer of fossil fuels, but its commander in chief has called climate change a hoax. Yet from the military’s perspective, the future effectiveness of America’s armed services hinges on taking environmental precautions. In this week’s field guide on the future of war, Quartz reporter Justin Rohrlich uncovers how the world’s most expensive armed forces is quietly going green.
Quartz Obsession
Kratom will get you high. Derived from the leaves of an evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia, many users tout kratom as a way to step down from opioid addiction. It’s legal, though controversial, in much of the US and Europe, though there’s very little science examining how it works. Experiment with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Higher education’s value is time. Young adults need more years gaining perspective than vocational skills training can provide.
Designing for Instagram is killing design. Focusing on what will look good for the publicity photos misses the entire point.
The world’s next factory won’t be in South Asia. The region is losing out to Africa and elsewhere.
Surprising discoveries
Squirrels hid hundreds of walnuts under a car hood. The sneaky rodents decided to stash enough supplies for the next three winters.
Just 20 companies could save the world. That is, they’re responsible for a third of the globe’s carbon emissions.
Human body parts can regenerate. Salamander-like abilities could be developed to repair joints and even regrow limbs.
Pirates don’t make good scapegoats. A Greek ship-owner was denied $77 million in a complex insurance fraud involving fake pirates, fire, and a murdered investigator.
Madrid declared war on parrots. They’ll be “ethically slaughtered” to cut down on noise and mess complaints.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, nut stashes, and fake pirates 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.