Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The Saudi crown prince meets Theresa May. Mohammed bin Salman arrives in London to meet the UK prime minister (and have lunch with the Queen) after a tumultuous year of societal changes in Saudi Arabia and tensions in the region.
The EU lays out Brexit trade demands. Chairman Donald Tusk will issue draft guidelines for a new trade agreement with Britain in just over a year’s time. The draft still needs to be approved by the bloc’s 27 remaining countries.
While you were sleeping
Kim Jong-un said he was open to relinquishing nuclear weapons. The North Korean leader told a South Korean delegation that he is willing to negotiate with the US about the fate of his nuclear program. One official said Kim “made clear that achieving denuclearization is his father’s dying wish.”
The UK warned Russia after a double agent and his daughter were poisoned. Former Russian colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found unconscious near a UK shopping center on Sunday. Foreign secretary Boris Johnson said the UK would boycott the upcoming World Cup in Russia if there was evidence of the Kremlin’s culpability.
The EU warned of a tit-for-tat import tax on US goods. Trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström said the EU would “retaliate but not escalate” if US president Donald Trump followed through on his threat to impose steep tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The EU said it would target signature US exports including Levi’s jeans, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and bourbon.
West Virginia’s school strike ended with a raise for teachers. After two weeks of school closures, legislators agreed to give all state workers (paywall), including teachers, a 5% raise. West Virginia teachers are among the lowest paid in the US.
France raised its age of consent to 15. Public outcry prompted new statutory rape laws after two cases in which men escaped conviction after having intercourse with 11-year-old girls. French law had previously required proof of force for victims under 15.
Quartz obsession interlude
Annalisa Merelli on how Italy made Steve Bannon’s “ultimate dream” come true at the polls: “Italy has never had an actual popular revolution; while political systems may be routinely overthrown at the polls (Mussolini, remember, was elected), the elite keep coming back in new disguises.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Stay better informed by reading less news. Go outside your bubble, stay off social media, and cultivate curious friends.
Fast fashion is an environmental disaster. The industry sucks up resources and spits out pollution to create disposable clothing.
Trump’s trade war will be an economic calamity. Everyday Americans will lose out, and the entire world could eventually suffer.
Surprising discoveries
Almost everyone is more creative in mid-morning. Managers should schedule different types of meetings.
Brazilian thieves stole $5 million in six minutes. A five-person team held up a Lufthansa cargo plane, grabbed the cash, and made their escape in virtually no time.
The world’s oldest message in a bottle was unearthed on an Australian beach. It was tossed from a German ship into the Indian Ocean in 1886.
A giant robot wolf protects Japanese sheep. “Super Monster Wolf” features huge teeth and flashing eyes, and is entering mass production after a successful trial run.
The Bachelor reportedly tracked contestants’ menstrual cycles. Producers of the US reality show tried to interview women when they were most emotional.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, messages in a bottle, and super monster wolfbots 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 and edited by Susan Howson and Adam Pasick.