Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The UK could announce new sanctions on Russia. Prime minister Theresa May is under pressure (paywall) to take action against Moscow following the fatal poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil. Today she’ll chair a National Security Council meeting addressing the matter.
The Bombay Stock Exchange makes it easier to buy stocks. Starting today, investors will no longer be charged transaction fees for stocks that are part of the Sensex 30 index, which includes India’s most highly valued companies. The move was made to entice individual investors.
The Church of Scientology launches a TV channel. The Scientology Network will premiere on channels such as Apple TV and DirecTV, and an app will also be available for download on the iOS App Store. “It’s TIME for us to tell OUR story…” the church wrote in a tweet, without giving further details about the channel’s content.
Over the weekend
A land scandal surrounding Japan’s prime minister deepened. Japan’s finance ministry confirmed media reports that it had altered documents connected to a public land sale at the heart of a cronyism scandal. Japanese media reports specifically said that Akie Abe, wife of the prime minister, was among those whose names were deleted from the documents.
China officially removed its presidential term limits. The National People’s Congress chose to abolish the two-term, 10-year limit for presidents on Sunday, paving the way for Xi Jinping to hold that position for life. Only two delegates, out of almost 3,000, voted against the measure.
France’s far-right party floated a new name. Marine Le Pen proposed changing her party’s name from the National Front to the National Rally—a name similar to a WWII-era party aligned with Nazi Germany. Le Pen nonetheless believes the change might remove a “psychological barrier” for some voters who see the National Front as racist.
Elizabeth Warren ruled out running for US president. The senator from Massachusetts confirmed she would not seek the Democratic nomination in 2020. At a rally over the weekend, Donald Trump, who has called Warren “Pocahontas” in the past, said the media would grow bored of covering a hypothetical Warren campaign.
The EU and Japan pushed to be exempted from US tariffs. In Brussels on Saturday, European Union and Japanese trade officials lobbied their US counterparts (paywall) for exclusion from the US’s new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The EU says it will slap $3.5 billion on products imported from the US if it does not receive an exemption.
Quartz obsession interlude
Abdi Latif Dahir on what China’s growing presence in Africa might mean for the US. “China has eclipsed the US in Africa in many ways: providing loans, financing much-needed infrastructure, competing for resources like oil and minerals, increasing its trade share, and spreading its ideological influence.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Astrology is a form of escapism. In times of tumult, there’s an increasing willingness among young people in particular to question the arranged order.
A prestigious reputation could be a liability for companies in discrimination lawsuits. Activist investors and the media are more willing to make an example of firms that have a “halo” to tarnish.
Transgender activism will lead to a backlash. Advocates must be careful to use accurate language to describe the issue.
Surprising discoveries
Tesla seeks a valet mastermind. It wants a manager of “exceptional ability” to fix its California HQ parking problems.
Black Panther is now Marvel’s fifth billion-dollar movie. After a strong opening in China, the superhero blockbuster became the 33rd movie ever to gross 10 digits.
A Canadian woman will appear on the country’s banknotes for the first time. Viola Desmond, who 72 years ago was fined and detained for sitting in the wrong section of a cinema, will feature on the C$10 bill.
Japan’s lack of gun fatalities is about more than just laws. For gang members, it is more honorable to fight with a more difficult weapon.
North Korea will launch two slick TV dramas. One depicts farmers battling Japanese soldiers as they attempt to “steal ginseng from the people.”
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, banknotes featuring women, and valet masterminds to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Isabella Steger and edited by Steve Mollman.