Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Trump tackles South Korea on trade. The US president plans to talk to president Moon Jae-in about trade, North Korea, and how deployment of the US’s THAAD missile defense system has been put on hold in South Korea.
Emmanuel Macron goes to Mali. The president is hoping to eventually pull French troops out of its former colony by giving his support to a new West African military force that could replace them. The French government views the Sahel region as a threat to European security, acting as a breeding ground for militants and people traffickers.
Canada celebrates its 150th birthday. The July 1st anniversary will be celebrated in style in Ottawa, but many of the country’s indigenous inhabitants are not happy to mark the day, pointing out that they have been there for “tens of thousands of years.”
While you were sleeping
Germany’s parliament voted “yes” to same-sex marriage. The snap vote took place four days after chancellor Angela Merkel urged lawmakers to vote according to their conscience despite a long history of opposition by her Christian Democratic party. The reform will give same-sex couples full marital rights and the ability to adopt children. Merkel herself, despite saying she wasn’t against it, voted “no.”
The White House tweaked the travel ban. The administration revised the definition of what counts as a close family member late Thursday to include fiancés. The executive order, which bars travelers from six Muslim-majority countries from entering the US unless they have close ties with the country, took effect at 8pm last night.
Rivals fought over Asia’s biggest warehouse operator. The race to buy Singapore-listed Global Logistics Properties—valued at $10 billion—has come down to a Chinese consortium and a group led by Warburg Pincus. The warehouse giant is an attractive acquisition during the e-commerce boom, and because it counts Amazon as one of its clients.
Delivery Hero whetted investor appetites. The Berlin-based food-takeaway app (paywall) raised almost €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in its IPO today, giving Germany’s venture scene a much-needed victory. It marks the biggest listing by a European tech company in almost two years. Delivery Hero, which is 35% owned by startup incubator Rocket Internet, operates in 40-plus countries.
Japan labour shortages soared. The country is running out of workers (paywall) with the jobs-to-applicants ratio hitting a 43-year high in May. The Japanese economy is growing, but firms say shrinking domestic demand and an ageing workforce are their biggest concerns over the next three years.
Quartz obsession interlude
Nikhil Sonnad on the “wellness” products peddled to opposite ends of the political spectrum. “Many of the alternative-medicine ingredients in Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop products are sold—with very different branding—on the Infowars store. That’s the site run by Alex Jones, the radio show host and conspiracy theorist.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
India is better at protecting cows than women. A striking photo project questions the country’s priorities when it comes to religion and gender equality.
Can China save the US economy? While Donald Trump resists globalization, Chinese investors continue to pour billions into the American economy.
You don’t have to be a jerk to disrupt an industry. Steve Jobs may have succeeded despite his abrasive personality, not because of it.
Surprising discoveries
Male cockatoos flirt by playing dramatic drum solos. Scientists have captured footage of birds doing their best John Bonham impressions with sticks and seeds.
Dating apps can make you ugly. Rating people in advance makes them seem less attractive when you meet face-to-face.
Switzerland’s having a baby boom. More babies were born in 2016 than any year since 1972; foreign parents are driving up the numbers.
The World Bank is letting investors bet on pandemics. It issued $425 million in bonds that pay out less money if there are outbreaks of certain diseases.
The UK parliament is now business casual. The House of Commons voted to reform its centuries-old dress code—including making ties optional.
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