Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
An Asia-Pacific trade pact may finally move forward… At a meeting in Singapore, Indian commerce minister Suresh Prabhu could announce his country’s decision regarding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which has stalled without India’s participation.
…While Narendra Modi attends a neighborhood get-together. India’s prime minister will head to Kathmandu to meet with counterparts from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, and Nepal, who together form the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
While you were sleeping
The White House legal counsel is stepping down. Donald Trump announced Don McGahn’s departure on Twitter. The White House lawyer spent 30 hours being interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s prosecutors (paywall) over the past nine months.
The US economy exceeded expectations. Second-quarter gross domestic product growth was revised upward to 4.2%, the fastest rate in four years, as lower consumer spending was offset by investments in software and reduced imports. Analysts warned that such one-off effects may not sustain growth for much longer.
An NFL player was busted for insider trading. Cleveland Browns linebacker Mychal Kendricks admitted to reaping $1.2 million in ill-gotten profits on the advice of TV writer Damilare Sonoiki, who provided inside information in his previous job at Goldman Sachs. Both men could face substantial prison sentences.
The UK joined the fight against Boko Haram. On a visit to Nigeria, prime minister Theresa May pledged to assist the country with military training and anti-terrorism propaganda efforts against the militant Islamist group. May told Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari that the investment in his country’s stability hinged in part on Nigeria’s continuing efforts to support human rights.
Trudeau stayed noncommittal about NAFTA. The Canadian prime minister told reporters that the country would attempt to get to the “right place” by Friday, or walk away from negotiations with the Trump administration (paywall). Foreign minister Chrystia Freeland spent yesterday in Washington discussing the deal, after the US and Mexico announced their own preliminary agreements earlier in the week.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Oliver Staley on what happens when money is worthless: “Absurdist anecdotes about life in Germany during hyperinflation abound: Banknotes were hauled in wheelbarrows and used as wallpaper. Prices on menus were changed mid-meal. Marks had so little value the central bank didn’t bother with anti-fraud measures when printing cash; after all, who would bother counterfeiting notes that had no value?” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Strategies aren’t goals. A business won’t get ahead if it confuses abstract aims with solid, clear objectives.
The history of medicine shows the importance of trial and error. Problem-solving is never a straightforward process, but mistakes should be made in good faith.
Louis CK is confused about atonement. Doing essentially nothing for several months (paywall) does not erase years of sexual misconduct.
Surprising discoveries
Pigeons can’t outrace bullet trains. Two men were busted in a railroad scheme (paywall) to give their homing pigeons a leg up in the Shanghai Pigeon Association Grand Prix.
Pumpkin spice lattes come earlier every year. Starbucks sees no need to limit the famous autumn drink to days with cold weather.
Indonesia tests the virginity of female police and military recruits. Even if it were scientific in its method, it doesn’t prove anything about morals.
Airplane bathrooms are shrinking. Delta claims slimmer lavs are necessary (paywall) to accommodate features like larger overhead bins.
People with smutty-sounding names are out of luck online. The internet freezes out people with surnames like Dickman, Weiner, and even Sporn.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, disgraced pigeons, and giggly names 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.