Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
France and the UK talk European defense and immigration. French president Emmanuel Macron will visit British prime minister Theresa May in London to urge the UK to accept more refugees. France’s hope is that the UK will invest more in French border policing in addition to easing the country’s refugee strain, which has been a particular issue at migrant camps in Calais.
China reports its fourth-quarter and 2017 full-year economic growth figures. Experts predict the country’s GDP growth reached 6.9% last year, versus the government target of 6.5%, though a modest slowdown is expected for the fourth quarter. Steady domestic demand and an improved global economy may have canceled out setbacks from slowing investment.
South Korea considers shutting down all virtual currency exchanges. Opinions on whether to do so vary considerably within the government, but a key minister vowed that a decision on regulations will be reached at a policy meeting today. One possibility is authorities will shutter only exchanges that have been breaking the law—last week police raided a few.
IBM releases numbers, which could finally show growth. For the first time in six years, the technology giant is predicted to show gains in revenue, with profits also on the rise. Yesterday Barclays raised its rating for the company, saying it could come to rival Amazon and Microsoft’s Azure in the cloud technology arena.
While you were sleeping
Apple said it will bring its overseas cash back to the US. It’s hoarding about $250 billion generated from sales of products outside the US—much of which it will now repatriate thanks to the lower corporate tax rate. It will spend around $30 billion on capital expenditures and create 20,000 new jobs in the US over the next five years, plus open a second campus.
Trump accused Russia of helping North Korea evade sanctions. In an interview with Reuters he praised China for its efforts to restrict oil and coal supplies to its neighbor, but said Russia appeared to be filling in the gaps left by the Chinese. Last month European intelligence sources said Russian tankers were supplying fuel to North Korea by transferring cargoes at sea.
Peugeot will go electric and return to the US. PSA Group CEO Carlos Tavares said in Detroit the carmaker will offer an electric option (paywall) for every model by 2025. Citroen, Opel, and Vauxhall are also under the PSA umbrella. He also detailed plans to return to the US market, which Peugeot left decades ago.
Trump dealt Haitians another blow. As part of a broader push to restrict immigration, the Trump administration said Haitian laborers seeking to come to the US as seasonal workers will no longer be eligible. Last week he allegedly questioned why the US was accepting people from “shithole countries,” including Haiti, though he later denied that.
Quartz obsession interlude
Olivia Goldhill on how the left is also guilty of unscientific dogma. “In areas where left-wing opinions contradict scientific evidence, there’s an unfortunate tendency to suggest that such scientific research is morally problematic. This speaks to a common trope on the left: their views aren’t simply accurate, but moral. Though those on the left are quick to point to right-wing scientific illiteracy, they’re often steadfast in their refusal to recognize their own dogma.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The flu shot is mostly ineffective, but you should get it anyway. When more people are immune, the chance of contagion diminishes for everyone.
A legal weed market could be its own border wall. The legalization of marijuana in some US states has helped reduce crime in areas bordering Mexico.
The accusations against Aziz Ansari are more an instance of bad sex than sexual assault. And they’re harming the #MeToo movement (paywall).
Surprising discoveries
Alexa is now more feminist. When asked explicit questions, Amazon’s voice assistant answers: “I’m not going to respond to that” or “I’m not sure what outcome you expected.”
California separatists are trying to create a new state. “New California” would cover mostly rural, non-coastal counties like Fresno and Chico.
A UK pharmacy chain’s “faux fur” products were made of real fur. Pressure from animal-rights activists on social media convinced Boots to test and then recall the offerings.
Trailer parks are gaining popularity in the US. More affordable than single family homes, mobile home communities are attracting retiring baby boomers and millennial families.
American students do better on standardized tests if they’re paid. Researchers paid students $25 before the test and charged $1 for each mistake—and they performed better than the unpaid control group.
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