Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A ceasefire begins in Syria. The United States and Russia’s ceasefire agreement, reached on Sept. 9, takes effect at sunset on Monday. Over the weekend, at least 90 people were killed in airstrikes in the country as government troops and insurgents fought to establish their positions before the ceasefire began.
Some insight into the US Federal Reserve. Fed governor Lael Brainard will deliver a speech in Chicago, the last appearance before central bank 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 and cancelled a planned trip to California. The Democratic presidential candidate left the 9/11 memorial service in New York early and a video showed her stumbling as she got into a black van. Her doctor later said she was being treated for pneumonia. The Republicans have made her health a key pillar of their attacks.
Samsung shares fell to a two-month low. After the South Korean company asked all customers to return their exploding Galaxy Note 7 smartphones as soon as possible, its share price fell by 7% (paywall) in Seoul on Monday. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Samsung have both said people shouldn’t use or charge the Galaxy Note 7.
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 want a referendum like the one Scotland held in 2014; 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. Last week, seven people were arrested in connection with a plot to attack a Paris railway station. French prime minister Manuel Valls said the security services foil terror plots “everyday.”
Ronald Reagan’s would-be assassin was freed. John Hinckley Jr. was released from the mental hospital where he lived for 35 years. The 61-year-old 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).
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
The US is still entangled in post-9/11 bad decisions. Some in the CIA say the conflict with al-Qaeda should have been over within six months.
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. Drinking the hallucinogenic tea (paywall) 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 becoming popular.
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