Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
SAARC finance ministers meet in Islamabad. The regional body’s country representatives will discuss trade promotion, as well as financial, banking, and investment opportunities in South Asia. Due to tensions with Pakistan, India’s finance minister will send a representative.
Angela Merkel visits the Czech Republic. The German chancellor will discuss Turkey’s role in the refugee crisis with Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka as part of her post-Brexit European tour. A number of demonstrations are planned in the country, which has seen a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment.
Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment trial begins. Brazil’s suspended president has been charged with falsifying the national budget to make its deficit appear smaller. Rousseff’s supporters and detractors have attempted to shape public opinion ahead of the trial.
While you were sleeping
The American University of Afghanistan was attacked. Eyewitnesses described a scene of terror, with students fleeing from an explosion, followed by gunshots. A health official said at least one person was killed and at least 25 students injured in the attack. The number of assailants and their motive remains unclear.
Turkey launched its biggest offensive yet against the Islamic State. Turkish troops and tanks encountered almost no resistance when they entered Jarablus, ISIL’s last foothold on the Turkish border. The effort is part of a US-backed initiative to fight the militant group.
The death toll in Italy’s earthquake rose to 159. Towns in Umbria, Lazio, and Marche were destroyed in the recent quake, and authorities are still searching for survivors. An earthquake of similar magnitude struck Myanmar on Wednesday, killing three and destroying scores of ancient temples.
Glencore counted its losses. The Swiss commodities producer said it narrowed its net loss (paywall) for the first six months through June to $367 million, compared with $676 million last year. Cost reductions and a rally in commodity prices were not enough to bring the company to a profit, but efforts to repair its balance sheet are on track.
Colombia reached a peace deal with FARC rebels. The historic agreement, which ends the country’s 52-year war, was reached after four years of negotiations. Now begins a feverish campaign to ratify the agreement, which includes a withdrawal of troops, rural development, and political participation for the rebels.
Quartz markets haiku
Drug-maker shares fall
Price control fears rise. One shock
EpiPen can’t cure
Quartz obsession interlude
Michael Tabb on humanity’s best shot at seeing life outside our solar system. “NASA knows there are billions of Earth-sized exoplanets out there, many of which could (for better or worse) host life. But until we can travel faster than the speed of light, we’ll never actually be able to reach most of them. With the discovery of Proxima b, an Earth-like planet just 4.2 light years away, that could change.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Let’s not eulogize office culture just yet. For many, working from home has blurred the distinction between a flexible work schedule and a life that’s mostly work.
Health care isn’t a right. It’s a business that, by nature, requires hard decisions and unhappy tradeoffs, not altruistic ideals.
Don’t write off the movie remake. Producers are desperately avoiding describing films as ‘reboots,’ but some of the greatest movies are reimagined classics.
Surprising discoveries
Qatar’s oil boom created a booming art industry. Too bad it crashed when oil prices bottomed out at $28 dollars a barrel last year.
Tattoos are being used to disguise hair loss. Tiny dots from scalp micropigmentation can mimic hair follicles on bald heads.
Magic has gone mainstream. More and more people are turning to mysticism and the occult to fill spiritual gaps in their lives, making ‘mysticore’ a new norm.
A Filipino fisherman hoarded the world’s largest pearl. He kept the precious 75-pound jewel for 10 years as a good luck charm.
Italy is giving teens €500 to ward off terrorism. The Italian government is handing 18-year-olds a “cultural bonus” to spend on theaters, museums, and concerts, in the hopes it will keep them from becoming radicalized.
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