Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
European leaders converge on Brussels. EU leaders in Brussels will discuss Brexit (pdf), migration, and climate change at the European Council summit. Meanwhile, Korean denuclearization and the Iran nuclear deal will be two big topics at the Asia-Europe meeting (pdf) of more than 50 country heads.
American Express reports on its third quarter. Analysts predict higher profits thanks to increased card spending, fees, and higher loan volumes.
The US Treasury secretary decides whether to attend “Davos in the Desert.” Steven Mnuchin said he will make up his mind about the Saudi investor conference based on Mike Pompeo’s debrief about his trips to Riyadh and Ankara. Many business leaders have pulled out of the event because of the suspected murder (paywall) of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
While you were sleeping
The Washington Post published Khashoggi’s last piece. The column, titled “What the Arab world needs most is free expression” (paywall), was accompanied by a note explaining the newspaper had held off publishing the story in hopes Khashoggi would return. “Now I have to accept: That is not going to happen,” wrote global opinions editor Karen Attiah.
The former USA Gymnastics head was arrested on tampering charges. Steve Penny was charged with evidence tampering (paywall) in the investigation into sexual abuse by former national team doctor Lawrence Nassar, who’s currently in jail. Mary Bono, the gymnastics body’s interim chief exec, stepped down on Tuesday; she’d been in the job less than a week.
The Vietnamese dissident known as “Mother Mushroom” arrived in the US. Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, who was serving a 10-year sentence for anti-state propaganda, was released from prison in Vietnam and landed with her family in Houston late Wednesday, according to Reuters’ sources.
Novartis agreed to buy prostate-cancer drug company Endocyte for $2 billion. The acquisition is in line with CEO Vasant Narasimhan’s strategy of refocusing the Swiss pharma giant on drug development. Endocyte is Novartis’s second radiopharmaceuticals acquistion (paywall) in the space of a year; it bought Advance Accelerator Applications for $3.9 billion last October.
Trump finally picked a new top diplomat for East Asia. The White House said former Air Force general David Stilwell will be nominated as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, a post that has been unfilled since April last year.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Cynthia Breazeal on how social robots will become family members in the future: “With fewer stay-at-home parents, social robots can serve as personalized practice partners to help with homework and reinforce what children have learned that day in school. Far beyond helping you find recipes and ordering groceries, they can be your personal sous-chef or even help you learn to cook. They can also act as personal health coaches to supplement nutrition and wellness programs recommended by doctors.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Saudi Arabia must be held accountable for more than Khashoggi’s death. The kingdom hasn’t faced any consequences over the dozens of Yemeni civilians killed by Saudi airstrikes.
Trump’s complaints about rate hikes are a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Federal Reserve has no choice but to continue raising rates in order to appear independent.
You shouldn’t have to pay an extra 20% to be handed a muffin. Coffeeshops’ tablet credit-card readers guilt customers (paywall) into tipping when it’s not necessary.
Surprising discoveries
Banksy’s shredder malfunctioned. Girl With Balloon should have been totally destroyed, instead of partially shredded.
The US may get a new Saudi Arabia ambassador. The royal family is floating Princess Reema bint Bandar as a replacement as it attempts to salvage relations with Washington.
By 2040, Spain will overtake Japan as the country with the world’s longest life expectancy. That enviable Mediterranean diet is expected to boost Spain’s life expectancy to 85.8 years.
Lego figurines are getting less joyful. Smiling faces have become less common, while angry expressions are on the rise.
Star architects create amazing pet homes. Designer pet furniture can include stylish dog houses, bird cages, and even chicken coops.
Rice Krispies help scientists study sinkholes and rock slides. The cereal mimics the Earth’s terrain and can illustrate how natural disasters impact our environment.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, designer dog beds, and shredded masterpieces 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 Jill Petzinger and edited by Sarah Todd.