Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Theresa May visits Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels. The European Commission president awaits an update on how the UK plans to handle Brexit, just after European Council president Donald Tusk undiplomatically expressed frustration (paywall) with Britain’s inability to agree on an exit deal.
The Bank of England decides on interest rates… The UK central bank is likely to keep rates steady at 0.75%, and trim forecasts for the country’s already sluggish growth due to Brexit uncertainty and a slowdown in major economies.
…And the European Commission releases economic forecasts. It is likely to cut its 2019 growth forecast for Italy to 0.2%, down from an earlier 1.2% estimate. With growth weaker in the second half of 2018, the broader euro zone’s outlook isn’t likely to be too bright either.
Twitter announces fourth-quarter earnings. Analysts will be looking at ad revenues, user growth, and spending to curb harassment and misinformation. The social media company’s stock is up 19% year-to-date and nearly 37% over the past year.
While you were sleeping
SoftBank’s biggest-ever buyback sent its shares soaring. The Tokyo-listed group surged 17%, a day after CEO Masayoshi Son unveiled plans to repurchase up to $5.5 billion of stock, funded by the proceeds of the IPO of its domestic telecom unit in December.
The US publicly rebuked Germany for deporting a terrorist it wanted. Acting attorney general Matt Whitaker criticized the decision to send to Turkey a man convicted in 2010 of plotting to bomb US targets in Germany. The dispute is the latest sign of rising tensions between the two allies.
A professor disclosed details of her alleged sexual assault by Justin Fairfax. Vanessa Tyson released a statement saying that the Virginia lieutenant governor, then a campaign staffer for John Kerry, assaulted her during the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Fairfax denies the allegations, which come after both the state’s governor and attorney general have been embroiled in controversies involving racist photos.
Qantas canceled an order for eight Airbus A380s. The Australian carrier has said it will instead refurbish its existing A380s. Dubai’s Emirates Airlines is also considering switching its order for the superjumbos to the smaller A350, which could force the European plane maker to end production of the aircraft.
Sudan’s president softened his tone towards protesters. Omar al-Bashir described the protesters, who have been demonstrating nearly daily since December, as young people with poor prospects, a stark contrast to his earlier demand for the “rats to go back to their holes.” He also pledged to release detained journalists.
The US indicted the American boyfriend of Russian agent Maria Butina. Paul Erickson, a longtime Republican fundraiser believed to have helped Butina try to build ties with Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, was charged with wire fraud and money laundering. His indictment doesn’t seem related to Russian interference. Butina pleaded guilty in December to conspiring to act as a secret foreign agent.
Quartz obsession interlude
Dollar stores have remade the American retail landscape—at a steep cost. In many small towns and struggling urban areas, they’ve even replaced grocery stores, creating food deserts where residents must rely on unhealthy options that, when you look closer, aren’t even a good deal. Read more in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Membership
Is esports the next NBA? Michael Prindiville definitely believes it. As chief of the esports organization Dignitas (which is owned by the same group that owns the Philadelphia 76ers), you might expect that, but Prindiville isn’t saying the road to world domination will be easy. Read more about his forecast for esports in this week’s member exclusive.
Matters of debate
Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!
Online shopping isn’t worth the environmental cost. Fast shipping and free returns are driving up harmful emissions.
Pointing out the obvious can help drive change. Findings don’t have to be earth-shattering to prompt people to act.
A border wall would be a boon for drug cartels. It would make the risky business of people smuggling more profitable.
Surprising discoveries
Smartphones are getting a menstruation emoji. The “drop of blood” is part of a release of new inclusive symbols that will also add 171 skin tone and gender options.
A new island has NASA puzzled. The land mass off the coast of Tonga has lightly-colored, sticky mud unlike anything scientists have previously encountered.
A paleontologist found a punk rock dinosaur in Argentina. Bajadasaurus bones show a fearsome predator with mohawk-like spikes protruding from its back.
12% of Americans don’t know who their VP is. A recent CNN poll suggests more than 30 million people have never heard of Mike Pence.
Older women’s brains look similar to younger men’s. Women’s brains appear “metabolically younger” as they tend to create energy at higher rates than men of the same age, a study said.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, inclusive emojis, and mysterious mud 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 Yenni Kwok and edited by Tripti Lahiri.