Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Theresa May sits down with Donald Tusk. It’s the first meeting between the British prime minister and EU Council president since May took office in July. Migration, trade, Russian sanctions, and Ukraine are on the agenda, of course, but the main topic will be Brexit.
Mario Draghi shows his hand. Will the European Central Bank president unleash fresh stimulus by extending its bond-buying scheme? Analysts are divided (paywall). It’s the calmest time for European stock markets since the ECB started quantitative easing in 2015; bond yields hit a record low on Wednesday.
Barnes & Noble reports its first-quarter results. Having suffered through seven quarters of sales declines, the US bookstore chain has been trying (pdf) to lure shoppers by offering toys and craft brewing kits. One bright spot: strong pre-orders for the latest Harry Potter book.
While you were sleeping
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump squared off. The US presidential candidates appeared on the same stage at a TV forum, though separated by 30 minutes. The highlights: Trump said Vladimir Putin was a better leader than Barack Obama, while Clinton said Trump was temperamentally unfit for the White House.
Liberty Media felt the need for speed. The media corporation headed by John Malone bought the elite racing competition Formula 1 from CVC Capital in a deal that values the business at $8 billion (including around $4 billion of debt). Bernie Ecclestone will stay on as CEO and Chase Carey, vice-chairman at 21st Century Fox, will be the new chairman.
Super Mario gave Nintendo a leg up. Shares in the Japanese video-game maker soared by 18% in Tokyo on Thursday after it announced a version of Super Mario for iPhone at Apple’s launch event yesterday. Gleeful investors think the game could be another smash hit for the company like Pokémon Go.
Southeast Asian leaders delivered a cryptic message. A statement from the ASEAN summit “issued a mild rebuke” (paywall) to China over its expansionist moves in the South China Sea, saying only that they were “seriously concerned” over the developments. China and the ASEAN countries also agreed to set up a telephone hotline (paywall) to avoid further clashes in the contested region.
Fyffes bought $46 million worth of Canadian mushrooms. The big banana company’s commitment to mushrooms continued with the acquisition of All Season Mushrooms (paywall) in British Columbia. The London-based fruit distributor bought Canada’s Highline Produce fungi firm for around $112 million in April.
Quartz obsession interlude
Cassie Werber on the English grammar rule that only non-English speakers know about. “Adjectives, writes the author, professional stickler Mark Forsyth, ‘absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun. So you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife. But if you mess with that order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac.’” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The US needs to make China a partner in space. Staying stuck in a Cold-War model of space research is hindering fruitful cooperation.
The “self” is grounded in awareness. Though versions of self are shaped by experiences throughout life, a sense of identity remains persistent through time.
This is how to raise geniuses. Gifted kids who are identified and nurtured from a young age succeed only if they are motivated, curious, and able to cope with stress.
Surprising discoveries
Your smartphone works better in your right hand. Especially if it’s an iPhone.
A New Zealand library has installed “ultrasonic teenage deterrent.” The device emits a high-frequency, mosquito-like noise to drive away loitering kids.
A real-life Loch Ness monster skeleton was found. The fossilized remains of a 13-foot-long reptile that ruled the Scottish seas 170 million years ago have been found.
The Great Wall of China relies on crowdfunding for repairs. The country’s heritage body has appealed to people to chip in and help preserve the iconic wall.
India is making ink out of air pollution. Researchers at Graviky Labs are revamping toxic waste from car exhaust pipes to create pens, spray paints, and more.
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