Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The European Council summit begins. Leaders from around the EU will discuss among other things (pdf) migration, Brexit, climate change, sustainable development, and relations with Africa, as well as an upcoming summit with the Arab League.
Japan reports on its September trade balance. In August the nation recorded a trade deficit of about $3.9 billion, the second consecutive month in the red. Bad weather and earthquakes could contribute to a third month in a row.
Unilever reports earnings. The company promised to engage more with shareholders after facing investor opposition twice this year, once over a compensation plan and another on a proposal to relocate its headquarters to the Netherlands.
While you were sleeping
The Brexit impasse continued. At a pre-summit dinner, EU leaders, citing the lack of progress in negotiations, decided there will be no extraordinary summit next month regarding Britain’s exit from the bloc. Beforehand UK prime minister Theresa May said she was “ready to consider the extension of the transition period.”
Trump moved to withdraw the US from a postal treaty. The 192-nation treaty gives discounted rates for items shipped from China and other nations. American manufacturers, who often pay higher rates than foreign competitors, applauded the move.
Tesla secured land in China for a $2 billion gigafactory. The electric-car maker said it’s reached a deal with Shanghai authorities on a plot of land. Manufacturing locally would allow the company to skirt tariffs and mean lower prices on Tesla cars sold in China.
Fed minutes pointed to continued interest-rate hikes. Notes from the US Federal Reserve’s September meeting showed a majority of officials think rates must gradually increase until the economy slows. Yesterday Trump called the central bank his “biggest threat” and criticized it for raising rates too fast.
A school shooting shocked Crimea. At least 19 people were killed and dozens wounded after a student opened fire before killing himself at Kerch Polytechnic college, according to Russian investigators. Witnesses also reported hearing an explosive device go off.
The #MeToo movement in India saw its biggest casualty yet. Mubashar Jawed Akbar, minister of state for external affairs, resigned amid sexual-misconduct allegations, saying he would challenge the “false accusations” in court. He’s the latest in a series of powerful men to quit top positions in similar circumstances.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Dan Kopf on marriages in the US finally showing more age equality: “Not only is the share of marriages in which the woman is older rising, the number in which the man is significantly older is falling. In 2008, about 8.2% of never-before-married women tied the knot with a man at least 10 years older. In 2016, that number was down to 7.3%. As a result of these changes, the average difference in age between newlyweds fell from about 2.6 years in 2008 to less than 2.3 years in 2016.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Algorithms can’t fix inequality and discrimination. Resources would be better spent working to fix flawed institutions rather than focusing on AI plagued by blind spots.
Donald Trump’s complaints about rate hikes are a self-fulfilling prophecy. The US Federal Reserve has no choice but to continue raising interest rates in order to appear independent.
Saudi Arabia must be held accountable for more than Jamal Khashoggi’s death. Dozens of Yemeni civilians have been killed by Saudi airstrikes, yet the kingdom hasn’t faced real consequences.
Surprising discoveries
YouPorn launched a search-by-emoji feature. Over 75 different emoji are now searchable, including heels for ”fetish” and two hearts for romantic content.
Photos of a weevil’s eye won a big photo award. Winners of Nikon’s macro competition include photographers who captured images of microscopic plants, butterfly wings, and human tears.
A French perfume maker has created a scent derived from waste. “I Am Trash” is created from recycled materials along with notes of strawberry.
Rice Krispies are helping scientists study sinkholes and rock slides. The cereal mimics the Earth’s terrain and can illustrate how natural disasters impact our environment.
An ice shelf in Antarctica is making eerie noises. The Ross ice shelf has been humming low tones for years as it vibrates from wind and melting activity.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, trashy perfume, and unexpected uses for breakfast cereal 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 April Siese and Steve Mollman.