Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Japan and China talk trade. Japanese finance minister Tarō Asō will meet his Chinese counterpart Liu Kun in Beijing on Friday. They’re expected to revive talks of a massive currency swap worth 3 trillion yen ($27.15 billion), while also discussing the US trade war.
The US and Canada try to reach a trade deal. Canadian foreign minister Chrystia Freeland and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer are in talks to iron out considerable differences before Friday’s deadline, when Donald Trump wants to notify Congress (paywall) of a deal to replace NAFTA.
France’s pesticide ban. Starting Saturday, France will enforce a ban on five neonicotinoid pesticides—used to treat food crops and vineyards—that have decimated bee populations. The decision has met criticism from farmers who say there’s no alternative.
While you were sleeping
Argentina hiked interest rates to 60%. President Mauricio Macri asked the International Monetary Fund to speed up a $50 billion bailout as the Argentine peso dropped to record lows. The central bank’s previous rate of 45% did little to combat rising inflation.
Microsoft demanded subsidized family leave from its suppliers. US contractors with more than 50 employees must provide their staff with a minimum of 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Microsoft plans to help foot the bill for qualifying companies, even though it may lead to higher costs.
Uber joined the scooter boom. The company’s newly acquired Jump subsidiary has begun developing its own electric mobility device, Bloomberg reports (paywall). In the interim, the company is rebranding Chinese scooters as it tries to promote personal e-mobility devices for short journeys.
Ghana is in talks to host a Volkswagen factory. The proposed assembly plant (paywall) was announced as German chancellor Angela Merkel visited her Ghanaian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo. The deal is part of German efforts to stem illegal migration by encouraging economic development.
Campbell Soup slimmed down. The packaged food giant is selling its international and fresh-foods brands, retreating from efforts to offer healthier fare. The company, which is under pressure from activist investor Dan Loeb to sell itself, said it is still open to an acquisition.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Eshe Nelson & Jason Karaian on a market manipulation soundtrack. “What’s notable about the BNP Paribas case is that the traders involved exposed their misdeeds in a rather unexpected way, by quoting lyrics from old-school R&B hits by the likes of Salt-N-Pepa and Montell Jordan … Quartz does not condone or encourage market manipulation, and takes no responsibility for your actions while under the influence of this playlist.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Internet memes can be forces for good. Viral images can also be used to encourage socially positive behavior—even if they often do the opposite.
Legalized weed should be included in free-trade pacts. Former Mexican president Vicente Fox thinks marijuana should be part of NAFTA.
Checked bag fees make flying cheaper. Unbundling airline services is generally a good thing.
Surprising discoveries
England and South Korea are cracking down on caffeine for kids. Sales of energy drinks like Red Bull will be banned for children in the UK, while South Korea will stop selling coffee in schools.
Utah restocks its mountain lakes by air-dropping fish from airplanes. About 95% of them survive the fall.
Lego made a drivable Bugatti out of plastic bricks. It has a top speed of about 12 mph (19 km/h).
Google’s AI can predict earthquake aftershocks. Developed with researchers from Harvard, it’s a significant improvement on existing models, which are barely better than a coin flip.
A cafe chain trades free coffee for personal data. Shiru Café caters to university students in Japan, India, and the United States.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Lego supercars, and fish parachutes 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 Adam Pasick and McKinley Noble.