Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Japan releases a slew of economic data. The country’s Statistics Bureau is expected to publish the latest figures on consumer price inflation, unemployment, household spending, and industrial production. The information promises a broad overview of the Japanese economy, and a sense of how well prime minister Shinzō Abe’s “Abenomics” are holding up.
World leaders attend the funeral of Shimon Peres. A long list of dignitaries will pay their respects to the former Israeli president and prime minister, including US president Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Bill Clinton, and Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas reportedly sent a letter of condolence to Peres’ family, for which he was castigated by Hamas.
The UK releases data service sector data. The country’s Office for National Statistics will publish reports showing how the Brexit referendum impacted this sector—the largest slice of the UK economy. The ONS will also make public other economic indicators.
While you were sleeping
India’s army attacked suspected militants. The “surgical strikes” were launched along the border with Pakistan in Kashmir after days of escalating tension in the region. Border security forces have been put on alert for a potential retaliation from Pakistan.
Russia rejected American demands for a ceasefire in Syria. Russian forces have continued bombing rebel-held areas of Aleppo. The Kremlin has offered a 48-hour pause to allow for humanitarian access—far short of the seven days the US has requested.
Britain signed its first nuclear deal in a generation. The Hinkley Point project to build a new nuclear power station in Britain was put on hold when prime minister Theresa May unexpectedly took office in July. Representatives from China and France, which are both supporting the project, finally met with their counterparts in London to finalize the plans.
The world’s most trafficked mammal got extra protection. Pangolins, a little known animal found in Asia and Africa, have been driven to the brink of extinction by poaching. A ban on trade in all eight species of Pangolin hopes to put an end to the buying and selling of their meat and scales.
A commuter train crashed into a station in New Jersey. The train was derailed and caused massive damage, including over 100 injuries and at least one death. Service in and out of the station in Hoboken—a major transportation hub for the New York metropolitan area—was suspended.
Quartz obsession interlude
Akshat Rathi on the global health threat of illegal trade in wild-animal meat: “In 2015, the World Health Organization published a list of the top emerging diseases that are ‘likely to cause severe outbreaks in the near future.’ It’s no coincidence that all the diseases on the list are zoonotic diseases caused by RNA viruses, which turn animals—mostly wild ones—into reservoirs to hide in.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Pop culture demeans women by silencing them. Women in the public eye are constantly punished for raising their voices against the status quo.
Expensive meal services are bad for public health. They’re an unsustainable substitute for a society that understands healthy, environmentally-conscious food.
The “private” vs “public” school debate misses the point. A pragmatic approach to education reform would mean embracing a combination of the two school models.
Surprising discoveries
Clinical trials in China cannot be trusted… A recent government investigation found that 80% of them are fabricated.
…and neither can official Chinese oil reserve estimates. New satellite data shows that possible oil reserves are much greater than official numbers.
Teenagers who take dumb risks can’t help themselves. Their judgment may be affected by imbalanced neuron activity during adolescence.
A lack of clean air can impact your productivity. When air pollution rises, office workers automatically slow down.
Wearing body cameras can drastically change cop behavior. Police forces in the US and UK that implemented body cameras saw a 98% drop in complaints the following year.
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