Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
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 is likely to include a discussion on US support for Myanmar’s beleaguered economy. Questions remain about whether the US will drop its sanctions against the country.
A new president for UEFA. The European soccer body, which has been leaderless since FIFA fired its former president as part of a corruption investigation, meets in Athens to choose between current vice president Michael van Praag and Slovenia Football Association boss Aleksander Ceferin.
Hajj comes to an end. The five-day Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia draws to a close. Despite fears of overcrowding following last year’s stampede in which thousands died, this year’s pilgrimage, which saw 1.3 million people from 164 countries, was marked by calm.
While you were sleeping
Jean-Claude Juncker reported on the state of the European Union. The European Commission president said the UK would not have “à la carte access” to the EU single market after Brexit. He said the ECB’s low interest rates (paywall) had saved euro-zone members $50 billion. He condemned the growth in populism, while calling for less “national individualism.”
Britain saw no rise in unemployment following the Brexit vote. The jobless rate remained at 4.9% for the three months to the end of July, continuing the country’s 11-year unemployment low. There was a tiny dip in average wage growth.
Brazil announced a mass privatization plan. The government will sell off four airports, two seaport terminals, and employ private contractors on infrastructure projects in an attempt to create jobs and tackle its huge budget deficit. The country—led by Michel Temer following the impeachment and ousting of Dilma Rousseff—is in the grip of its worst recession in 80 years.
Cartier’s parent company was in the doldrums… Geneva-based Richemont reported a 13% fall in sales for the five months ending August, and was forced to buy back unsold inventory, mainly thanks to lack of demand in Asia and fewer big-spending tourists in Europe. It doesn’t expect much improvement any time soon.
…while its luxury rival Hermès weathered the downturn. The French retailer, famous for its impossible-to-get Birkin bags, reported a 16% surge in first-half sales of its core leather and saddlery products, and a 6% revenue increase. Sales grew all across Europe and even rose slightly in China.
The UK parliament condemned David Cameron for air strikes in Libya. A report from the foreign affairs committee accused the former British prime minister of lacking a coherent strategy and argued that missile strikes in 2011—led by Britain and France—intended to overthrow Muammar Gadaffi’s regime only helped fuel the spread of ISIL in North Africa.
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 not a media company. 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. There’s a weak 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 encourages youth suicide.
Five scientists are under siege by polar bears. The Russians have been encircled by 10 polar bears on tiny Arctic Ocean island for the last two weeks.
To learn how to do something, watch amateurs try it. Seeing someone fail and learning from their mistakes is more effective than watching pros.
Flying-saucer homes were all the rage in the 1960s. About 60 of the now-retro “Futuro” houses still exist in the world; here’s a helpful map for finding them.
Uzbekistan is offering TVs to encourage people to pick cotton. People who gather more than five tonnes will get a TV, 10 tonnes for a washing machine.
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