US-China trade talks, two literature Nobels, human salamanders

The Security Council debates Turkey’s Syria incursion. Turkey told the UN body yesterday that its military operation against the Kurds will be “proportionate, measured, and responsible.” The Security Council will discuss the situation today even as the US denied giving Turkey a green light to invade northern Syria. [Quartz Daily Brief]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today The Security Council debates Turkey’s Syria incursion. Turkey told the UN body yesterday that its military operation [against the Kurds]( will be “proportionate, measured, and responsible.” The Security Council will [discuss the situation today]( even as [the US denied]( giving Turkey a green light to invade northern Syria. US and China resume trade talks. The first high-level talks in two months may result in [not much more]( than the postponement of tariffs due to take effect next week, despite reports that China could be [open to a partial deal](. The Nobel Prize in literature.[Two winners will be named]( because the [award was suspended]( last year as the result of a sexual assault scandal. Among the favorites this year are Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, Russian novelist Lyudmila Ulitskaya, and Chinese writer Can Xue. Watch the live announcement [here](. Sponsor content by AT&T Business For some companies, the jury is still out on the benefits of a flexible work policy. But working remotely can increase employee productivity by as much as 21%. [Here’s how collaboration tools can help dispersed employees tap into their potential](. While you were sleeping Apple removed an app used by Hong Kong protesters from its app store. The US tech giant bowed to China and [withdrew HKMap.live]( a real-time, volunteer-run, and crowdsourced map of the city’s protests. [Apple claimed]( the app was used to “target and ambush police” and endangered “public safety.” The EU issued a warning on 5G. The bloc said in a report that 5G networks could be vulnerable to attacks by hackers if companies use multiple parts [from the same supplier](. It didn’t mention China’s Huawei, which the US has banned for similar security reasons. Kashmir re-opened for tourists. The Indian government said that the state was [open for business again](. In August, New Delhi [stripped Kashmir]( of its special constitutional status and imposed a massive security crackdown. The US arrested an analyst over leaks to journalists. The Department of Justice [accuses Henry Frese]( a counter-terrorism analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency, of leaking secret information to two journalists. It’s the sixth federal case involving leaks of classified information in just over two years. Iraq’s prime minister offered new concessions to protesters. Adel Abdul Mahdi [reshuffled his cabinet]( declared three days of mourning, and said that those who fired on protesters would be punished—but the measures are unlikely to make a difference. Quartz Membership Sign up for your [free trial](. The US military is the world’s largest consumer of fossil fuels, but it’s 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 fact, the 2009–2017 secretary of the US Navy called ignoring environmental change “the antithesis of proper military planning.” In this week’s field guide on [the future of war,]( Quartz reporter Justin Rohrlich uncovers how the world’s most expensive military 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 [Join the conversation on the Quartz app!]( Higher education’s value is time. Young adults need more years gaining perspective than [vocational skills training]( can provide. Instagram is killing design. Focusing on what will look good [for the publicity photos]( misses the whole point. The lesser of two evils is still evil. There’s no excuse for fondly remembering a time when [George W. Bush]( was leader of the free world. Surprising discoveries Barbers can help with suicide prevention. The British initiative uses time spent in the barber’s chair in [ways that go beyond]( the haircut and beard-trim. Just 20 companies could save the world. After all, they’re responsible for [a third of the planet’s carbon emissions](. This Bud’s for White Claw. The hard seltzer manufacturer may actually have [outsold the “king of beers”]( this summer. Human body parts can regenerate. [Salamander-like abilities]( lie within our cartilage cells, and could be developed to repair joints and even regrow limbs. Madrid declared war on parakeets. They’re considered [an invasive species]( and will be “ethically slaughtered” to cut down on noise and mess. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, brewskies, and seltzkies 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 Luiz Romero and Rashmee Roshan Lall. Enjoying the Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here to sign up.]( Want to advertise in the Quartz Daily Brief? Send us an email at ads@qz.com. To unsubscribe from the Quartz Daily Brief, [click here](.