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 by Japanese prosecutors. Last month Ghosn was charged for underreporting his income, which he strongly denied in a Tokyo court this week in his first public appearance since he was held nearly two months ago.
Japan and Russia tensely talk territory. Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono heads to Russia (subscription) on Saturday to meet with his counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, about the ownership of four disputed islands that Japan calls the Northern Territories—and Russia calls the Southern Kurils. Moscow summoned the Japanese ambassador earlier this week to discuss comments made by Japan that it felt cast unnecessary tension over the coming negotiations.
While you were sleeping
Alphabet was sued over allegations it covered up sexual misconduct. A shareholder lawsuit accused Google’s parent of playing a direct role in shielding executives at the search giant who faced sexual misconduct complaints, including approving a $90 million payout to one of them on his departure. A New York Times (subscription) report late last year on Google’s handling of sexual misconduct by top employees prompted a global staff walkout in November.
Michael Cohen will testify before Congress. The former lawyer and fixer for Trump will speak before the House Oversight Committee next month, shortly before he begins serving a three-year prison term. Cohen pleaded guilty to crimes that include paying hush money to women in 2016 on Trump’s behalf and lying to Congress about when plans for a Trump Tower in Russia were abandoned.
A 95-year-old Nazi guard deported by the US has died. Former Queens resident Jakiw Palij, possibly the last Nazi collaborator living in the US, was sent to Germany last year after a protracted legal process.
The US Justice Department settled with Fiat Chrysler. The automaker will pay nearly $800 million (subscription) to settle lawsuits for allegedly faking emissions results of diesel vehicles. The US suit against Fiat Chrysler came after Volkswagen in 2015 admitted to rigging emissions tests of its diesel offerings—its penalties eventually topped $10 billion. The deal will see about 100,000 vehicles, including Rams and Jeeps, recalled for a software update.
The US secretary of state pledged to rid Syria of Iranian influence. Mike Pompeo said the US would work with allies to “expel every last Iranian boot” from the country before offering reconstruction aid to repair war-torn areas. His remarks in Cairo were an attempt to reassure Arab allies of US commitment to the region after Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw US troops from Syria.
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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A small “big city” can have deeper connections. Cities that are less dense have tighter communities and provide more reasons to actually try connecting with your neighbors.
A simple Harvard rebranding signals a big change. Going from HBX to Harvard Business School Online shows how mainstream online learning has become.
India’s citizenship bill is effectively a Muslim ban. The amendment to the 1955 Citizenship Act is a thinly veiled attempt at cementing religious divisions, 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.
Climate change may be fueling bird-on-bird murders. Pied flycatchers are arriving in Europe earlier in the year, interrupting the breeding cycle of great tits, who respond by killing them and eating their brains.
Madagascar is an internet fast lane. Fueled by cable internet, Africa’s top tech hub is attracting outsourcing work from global companies.
Some plants “hear” through flowers. A study found petals vibrated in response to recordings of a bee’s wingbeats, leading plants to sweeten their nectar.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, bird murder suspects, 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 by Tripti Lahiri and edited by Maria Thomas.