Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
The US and Canada try to reach a trade deal… Canadian foreign minister Chrystia Freeland and US trade representative Robert Lighthizer hope to iron out considerable differences before today’s deadline, when Donald Trump wants to notify Congress (paywall) of a deal to replace NAFTA. Trump also threatened to withdraw the US from the World Trade Organization and said the agreement establishing the trade body “was the single worst trade deal ever made” (paywall).
…While trade talks kick off in Asia. Japan and China’s finance ministers are meeting in Beijing today to revive talks of a massive currency swap worth 3 trillion yen ($27.15 billion). Meanwhile, Australia’s new prime minister Scott Morrison and Indonesian president Joko Widodo are expected to announce a free-trade pact in Jakarta today.
The world pays their last respects to the Queen of Soul… Aretha Franklin’s funeral will take place today in Detroit, Michigan, and the guest list for the star-studded event includes Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, and Bill Clinton. The funeral will be broadcast and livestreamed starting at 10am local time. Here’s how you can tune in.
…And bids farewell to John McCain. After a memorial in Arizona on Thursday, a service honoring the late US senator will take place at the Washington National Cathedral on Saturday. It will be preceded by a procession, and the events will be livestreamed and covered by major US TV outlets beginning at 8:30am local time.
France enforces a pesticide ban. Starting Saturday, the country will no longer allow the use of five neonicotinoid pesticides that have been blamed for decimating bee populations. Reluctant farmers have criticized the move, saying there’s no alternative for protecting their crops.
While you were sleeping
Currency woes in Argentina and Turkey have spread to other emerging markets. Indonesia’s rupiah slid to a two-decade low as investors scrutinize emerging markets’ current account deficits, where the value of imported goods and services exceeds the value of those exported.
Argentina hiked interest rates to 60%. President Mauricio Macri had 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 hyperinflation.
The Catholic Church in Australia rejected laws forcing priests to report child abuse learned in confessionals. The church said in a report that children would be “less rather than more safe” under mandatory-reporting laws, which have been introduced in five states and one territory.
Trump cancelled raises for federal employees. The president cited budget constraints for why he was scrapping a 2.1% across-the-board raise and a separate locality pay increase that would’ve adjusted payments based on where a worker is based. He called the raises, which were due in January, “inappropriate.”
BlackRock had wanted to replace Elon Musk as Tesla’s chairman. A new filing revealed that funds managed by the firm had voted in favor of a defeated June shareholder proposal requiring an independent chairman. Some activists have called for the company to split the roles of chairman and CEO to improve oversight at the company.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Allison Schrager on why airlines’ checked-bag fees benefit flyers. “Paying for something that used to be free feels wrong. But in this case, it is something to celebrate… The unbundling of airline services is generally a good thing. Cheaper prices for passengers willing to forgo certain amenities allow more people to fly more often. Studies also show that reducing the number of checked bags, by charging fees to discourage them, cuts the time it takes to get bags on and off planes.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Weed should be included in free-trade pacts. Former Mexican president Vicente Fox thinks legal marijuana should be part of NAFTA.
Skim reading is eroding society. It incentivizes unchecked information, making us vulnerable to false information.
Internet memes can be forces for good. Viral images can also be used to encourage socially positive behavior.
Surprising discoveries
Utah restocks its mountain lakes by air-dropping fish from airplanes. About 95% of them survive the fall.
A lawyer has built a clientele from men fallen by #MeToo. Some fired bankers are winning big settlements (paywall) over claims they never received a proper investigation.
Bees have developed a taste for pesticides. Their preference is similar to smokers’ addiction to nicotine.
Dinner receipts have cost some bankers their jobs. Wells Fargo has fired or suspended more than a dozen employees for allegedly doctoring receipts (paywall) they expensed.
A New Zealand town doesn’t want any more pet cats. A proposal in Omaui would force owners to spay and neuter cats they already have and prohibit them from getting new ones.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, fish parachutes, and unwanted cats 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 Alice Truong and edited by Isabella Steger.