Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
EU leaders begin a post-Brexit budget debate. For the first time, they’ll discuss the EU’s long-term budget starting in 2021 after the UK—one of the main contributors—has left the bloc. More funds are needed for defense, security, and migration, but net contributors like Austria, Sweden, and the Netherlands are reluctant to cough up more cash.
Justin Trudeau visits Narendra Modi. The Canadian prime minister will meet his Indian counterpart today amid controversy over a botched party invitation. Meanwhile Donald Trump Jr. is expected to give a foreign policy speech alongside Modi during a private business trip to promote the family’s real-estate brand.
Malcolm Turnbull talks trade and security in Washington. The Australian prime minister will discuss the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact while visiting Donald Trump. The two will also discuss North Korea, with the Trump administration expected to unveil the largest package of new sanctions yet against the isolated nation.
Ivanka Trump attends the Olympics. The White House senior advisor will dine with South Korean president Moon Jae-in today before leading the US delegation at Sunday’s closing ceremony. The two are expected to reaffirm their countries’ alliance and avoid discussing how to handle North Korea.
The Royal Bank of Scotland shares its full-year numbers. The bank is expected to report a profit for the first time in a decade, thanks in part to a delay in a settlement with US authorities. RBS faces hefty fines over its role in selling the mortgage-backed securities that fueled the financial crisis.
While you were sleeping
Australia’s deputy prime minister said he’ll resign. Under pressure over an extramarital affair and facing a sexual harassment complaint, Barnaby Joyce will also step down as leader of the National party. He’ll remain in parliament, though, which will safeguard the shaky one-seat majority benefiting Malcolm Turnbull.
Seoul justified approving a visit by a controversial North Korean. Moon Jae-in’s administration faced protests over Kim Yong-chol, thought responsible for the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in 2010, leading a delegation at the Olympics closing ceremony. It said it’s focused on improving relations with the visiting officials, “not on their past or who they are.”
China seized control of an insurance conglomerate. The government takeover of Anbang shows how serious Beijing is about reducing financial risk, which it’s done partly by strengthening curbs over capital outflows. Anbang has been involved in highly leveraged overseas acquisitions in recent years. Chairman Wu Xiaohui faces fraud and embezzlement charges.
The US immigration agency deleted “nation of immigrants” from its official mission statement. The new version is part of a broader White House effort to embed the Trump administration’s hawkish attitude toward immigrants into federal bureaucracy. The phrase, long spoken with pride in the US, has been a pet peeve of anti-immigration advocates.
Quartz obsession interlude
Annalisa Merelli on what the US can learn from other countries about gun control. “Back in 1996, it took only 12 days after a mass shooting for Australia to pass the National Firearms Agreement, which banned automatic and semi-automatic weapon for ‘personal defense.’ The country created a temporary buyback program for guns that had become illegal. Stricter background checks were enforced… there have been no school shootings in Australia since.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Boys don’t know who they are, and it’s leading to violence. Men should use feminism as inspiration to figure out what “being a man” means now (paywall).
Math-class techniques can improve writing courses. Focusing on the process, not the result, will leave fewer students behind.
The US could grow as fast as China. Increasing government spending supports infrastructure, grows investments, and creates new opportunities for future populations.
Surprising discoveries
Dirty meat could be making the US sick. The alarming contamination in meat plants could help explain why 15% of Americans contract foodborne illnesses each year.
Climate change will force mammals to get pickier about mating. It’s no longer safe to molt white for winter in many habitats, so molting animals will have to pick new mates to save the species.
Michael Dell set a New York real-estate record. The Dell founder and CEO was behind the mysterious $100 million purchase of a penthouse on Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row in 2014.
Britain is losing its shine among career-minded non-Brits. Since the Brexit vote, the number of EU migrants coming to the UK has fallen by a third.
An amateur astronomer captured an impossible photo of a supernova. The chances of his stroke of luck are one in 10 million—or perhaps even one in 100 million.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, supernova pics, and NYC penthouse listings to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Steve Mollman and edited by Alice Truong.