Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Afghanistan’s president arrives in New Delhi. Ashraf Ghani’s two-day visit to India will include “close consultations” with prime minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to agree to Afghanistan’s requests for military assistance. Last year, India supplied four attack helicopters to the government in Kabul, the first such transfer of weapons since the Taliban regime fell in 2001.
Aung San Suu Kyi visits the White House. The Burmese state counselor’s meeting with president Barack Obama will cement her role as “Myanmar’s de facto leader” (paywall) and she is likely to discuss US support for Myanmar’s beleaguered economy. Questions remain about whether the US will drop its sanctions against the country.
The European Commission’s president gives a “State of the Union.” European leaders are anxiously awaiting Jean-Claude Juncker’s address at the European Parliament, where he is expected to cover security policy, the economy, and the post-Brexit future. Juncker has faced repeated crises since taking office in November 2014.
While you were sleeping
Russian hackers leaked confidential info on US Olympians. A group called “Fancy Bears” hacked into the World Doping Agency and leaked the confidential medical files of athletes that include tennis players Venus and Serena Williams and teenage gymnast Simone Biles. A Russian government spokesperson said Kremlin involvement was “out of question.”
The US and Israel agreed on a record-breaking military aid deal. The Obama administration will pledge $38 billion for Israel’s defense over the next ten years, marking the largest-ever military aid package in US history. Meanwhile, former Israeli president Shimon Peres was hospitalized near Tel Aviv after suffering a stroke.
The UK parliament condemned Cameron and Sarkozy for air strikes in Libya. A report from the body’s foreign affairs committee argued that missile strikes in 2011 intended to overthrow Gadaffi’s regime only helped fuel the spread of ISIL in North Africa. The committee is also proposing an investigation into the National Security Council’s decision to invade Iraq.
US middle-class incomes had their fastest growth year on record. The median earnings for a middle-class household rose 5% in 2015 over 2014, the biggest annual increase since data was first recorded in 1968. The spike breaks a long lull for American workers, but doesn’t entirely make up for damage inflicted by the Great Recession.
The first iPhone 7 reviews came in. After all that controversy, reviewers say getting rid of the headphone jack was a good move. And while the iPhone 7 doesn’t look much different than previous versions, it is faster and more durable.
Quartz markets haiku
After months of calm
the skies are now turbulent
Is a storm brewing?
Quartz obsession interlude
Jenny Anderson on reading difficult books to your kids. “Kids should pick books they love, and read what they want on their own. Agency is key. But there is a popular perception that to get kids to love to read, we should make it easy. That way they can make it through, build confidence, and ideally, start to love reading on their own. But author Doug Lemov has more faith in their abilities.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Facebook is an advertising company, not a media company. People might get their news from it—but it doesn’t produce any journalism of its own, and shouldn’t be subject to the same editorial standards as newspapers.
Learning cursive is a waste of time. The dated practice offers no proven advantage for a child’s cognitive development compared to block lettering.
We need new laws to govern the Arctic. Non-governmental organizations and industry groups need to step in to fix the patchwork of rules governing fishing and oil extraction in the region.
Surprising discoveries
Russia has the third-highest number of child suicides in the world. Parents are blaming an internet culture that promotes youth suicide through cult-like communities.
Moon cycles might be linked to big earthquakes. Researchers found a correlation between spring tides and large quakes that could help seismologists learn more about how they occur.
Bitcoin mining is big in Tibet. Cheap hydropower and low wages make Tibet a natural home for bitcoin “mines,” where microprocessors approve and record transactions made with the cryptocurrency.
To learn how to do something, watch amateurs try it. Experts can give you flawless instructions, but seeing someone fail and learning from their mistakes is more effective.
Flying-saucer homes were all the rage in the 1960s. About 60 of the now-retro “Futuro” houses still exist in the world, and there’s a helpful map for finding them.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, bad cursive writing samples, and Futuro-house photos to hi@qz.com. You can download our iPhone app or follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day.