Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
The US government shutdown becomes the longest ever. If the government remains at a stalemate moving into the weekend—and Donald Trump tweeted that he won’t budge until he receives funding for a border wall—it will surpass 21 days and set a new record. Meanwhile, unpaid federal workers are resorting to crowdfunding to pay their bills, and Trump has canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Carlos Ghosn faces another indictment. The former Nissan chairman will have two more charges of financial misconduct added to his potential rap sheet by Japanese prosecutors, Reuters reported. The new charges add to existing allegations that Ghosn underreported his income, which he continues to deny.
Japan and Russia tensely talk territory. Japanese foreign minister Tarō Kōno heads Russia on Saturday to meet with his counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, about the ownership of four islands (subscription) that Japan calls the Northern Territories—and Russia calls the Southern Kurils. Russia called for a pre-meeting earlier this week to discuss comments made by Japan that it felt cast unnecessary tension over the coming negotiations.
While you were sleeping
BlackRock chipped away at itself. The world’s largest fund manager announced forthcoming layoffs of 3% of its workforce, amounting to 500 jobs. The company expressed a need to “simplify processes and structures, to prudently manage expenses, and to accelerate growth.” BlackRock shares trade at less than a third of the price it did last year.
The US Justice Department settled with Fiat Chrysler. The automaker will pay more than $500 million (subscription) to settle lawsuits for allegedly faking emissions results. The number is less than the $650–$850 million expected, and far, far lower than Volkswagen’s own penalties, which topped $10 billion. More than 104,000 diesel-guzzling vehicles, including Rams and Jeeps, will be recalled for a software update.
Shinzō Abe urged the UK to make a deal. The Japanese prime minister said it was “the wish of the whole world” for Britain to leave the EU only with an agreement firmly in place. During his visit to London, Abe told critical parliament members that Japan backed British prime minister Theresa May and indicated that he looked forward to a stronger economic partnership should her deal be supported.
The US state secretary pledged to rid Syria of Iran. Mike Pompeo said the US would work with allies to “expel every last Iranian boot” from the country before it will offer reconstruction aid to repair war-torn areas.
Ocean temperatures are rising even faster. A new study showed that scientists had underestimated the speed at which the world’s oceans are heating up (subscription). It’s an alarming implication for climate change at large, as oceans continue to absorb most of the planet’s excess heat.
Quartz obsession interlude
Ankle monitors are the worst of GPS technology. From bracelets for teens to trackers for criminals, the electronic monitoring industry has more than doubled in size in recent years. And even when ankle monitors eventually become obsolete, smartphones will keep us all in an open-air prison. Read all about it in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Quartz Membership
The #MeToo movement is an opportunity for Goldman Sachs to be a leader. Talking about diversity is easy, but Goldman has the talent and resources to actually set an example for the notoriously male-dominated finance industry. Read our in-depth interview with former Goldman partner Jacki Zehner, available exclusively with a Quartz membership. You can sign up here for a 30-day free trial.
Matters of debate
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Moving to a small “big city” means deeper connections. Less dense cities have tighter communities and provide more reasons to actually try connecting with your neighbors.
Harvard changed an entire industry with just one word. The “online” in Harvard Business School Online signals an effort to diversify beyond the institution’s walls.
India’s citizenship bill is effectively a Muslim ban. The amendment to the 1955 Citizenship Act is a thinly veiled attempt at dividing voters, and a clear constitutional affront.
Surprising discoveries
Most fake news is spread by boomers. Adults older than 65—no matter their political leanings—tend to share way more misinformation on Facebook than any other demographic.
India’s young adults don’t care about romance. A Tinder survey says 18- to 25-year-olds prioritize travel, careers, solid friendships, and making their parents proud.
Japan has a massive debt to pay its workforce. Inaccurate labor surveys skipped several large businesses for 14 years, costing citizens tens of billions of yen in wages and benefits.
Madagascar is an internet fast lane. Fueled by cable internet, Africa’s top tech hub attracted business processing and outsourcing companies across the nation.
Some plants “hear” through flowers. Ultrasonic waves can attract pollinators, while their buzzing gives plants the signal to sweeten their nectar.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, audio-enhanced flowers, and fake news from mom to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and McKinley Noble.