Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A ceasefire begins in Syria. The United States and Russia reached a ceasefire agreement on Sept. 9 that takes effect at sundown on Monday. Over the weekend, at least 90 people were killed in airstrikes in the country, including more than 61 in an attack at a market in Idlib. Previous ceasefires have fallen apart within weeks.
All eyes are on the US Federal Reserve. Fed governor Lael Brainard will deliver a speech in Chicago, the last appearance before Fed officials enter a “quiet period” ahead of their Sept. 20-21 meeting. Fed watchers will be looking for any indication of a possible rate hike this month.
Major Middle Eastern stock markets are closed for Eid al-Adha. Most will shut down for the entire week for the Muslim world’s festival of sacrifice.
Over the weekend
Hillary Clinton fell ill at the 9/11 memorial service in New York. The Democratic presidential candidate left the service early and a video showed her stumbling as she got into a black van. A campaign spokesman said Clinton was “overheated,” and her doctor later released a statement saying she was being treated for pneumonia. The incident has fueled speculation about the state of Clinton’s health.
Catalan separatists rallied for independence. To mark Catalonia’s national day on Sunday, over 540,000 protestors flooded the streets of Barcelona to demand a break from Spain. Supporters of independence hope for a referendum like the one Scotland held in 2014, though the Spanish government’s constitution has banned secession.
France arrested a 15-year-old for planning a terrorist attack. A teenage boy was arrested in Paris on suspicion of preparing an imminent “violent action” at a public place in the city, marking the second alleged Islamic State plot discovered in France this month. Last week, seven people were arrested in connection with a plot to attack a Paris railway station.
Ronald Reagan’s would-be assassin was freed. John Hinckley Jr. was released from the mental hospital where he lived for 35 years, two months after a federal judge granted his request for convalescent leave. Hinckley, who is 61, must adhere to tight restrictions: He cannot drink alcohol, talk to the media, or contact any of his victims (or Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed).
At least 29 people died in a factory explosion in Bangladesh. More than 100 people were also injured when a boiler exploded at a four-story factory near Dhaka on Saturday. At least 10 people remain missing and the cause of the explosion remains unknown.
Quartz obsession interlude
Elizabeth Winkler on Hillary Clinton’s charisma problem. “Not being able to embrace an emotional voice—and thus, not being able to connect and inspire—has meant that women often put forth only fractured selves, stunted leaders. For all her qualifications, Clinton is dogged by accusations of being too stiff, too guarded, too inauthentic. This might be because female leaders are expected to check every box and exhibit every leadership trait, while men can get away with checking just a few.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Print news still rules. Newspapers have had centuries to figure out the best format for telling readers what’s important.
Shaming drug addicts doesn’t work. Most addicts use because they feel bad, which means their likely response to shaming is continued use.
Minimalism is ruining design. Our devices should be making a statement about who we are and what we do, instead of defaulting to what’s safe.
Surprising discoveries
Brits are eating venison faster than Scotland can produce it. The country will need to produce 1,200 more tons of deer meat annually to keep up with demand.
Most satellites aren’t insured. As of 2013, only 212 orbiting satellites were insured, out of 1,300 currently active.
Ayahuasca is Silicon Valley’s newest trend. Self-help guru Tim Ferriss says drinking the hallucinogenic tea is as common in San Francisco as “having a cup of coffee.”
The white lab coat changed medical history. Nineteenth-century doctors donned the white coats worn by laboratory scientists to lend the medical field some authority.
Purple Skittles taste different in the US because of regulation. A federal ban on growing blackcurrant prevented the flavor from growing popular stateside, even as it became commonplace in Europe.
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