Good morning, readers! Today for Quartz members, we have an exclusive video interview with Bill Gates, as he talks about socialism, nuclear power, privacy, and on how he would educate himself if he were 15 years old. Click here to check it out.
What to watch for today
Belgium cancels all flights due to a major strike. All inbound and outbound air travel is cancelled as air traffic controllers take part in a nationwide work stoppage.
The EU cracks down on Saudi financial transactions. The kingdom, along with Panama and North Korea, will be added to a watchlist of 23 countries (paywall) that pose higher risks of terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit financial flows.
Mike Pompeo arrives in Poland to discuss the Middle East. The US secretary of state will give a keynote address at a security event attended by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, exposing a widening rift (paywall) between the US and its traditional EU partners.
While you were sleeping
Mexican drug kingpin El Chapo was found guilty on all counts by a US jury. Joaquín Guzmán Loera was convicted of running the Sinaloa Cartel along with nine other counts, which will almost certainly carry a life sentence. A two-and-a-half month trial included grisly details of murders, rapes, and presidential bribes.
Donald Trump offered to extend the China trade truce. The US president said he could “see myself letting them slide for a little while” (paywall) if the countries are close to a deal ahead of a March 2 deadline. He also expressed displeasure with a bipartisan border security deal to forestall another government shutdown scheduled to begin on Friday.
California’s governor called off a San Francisco-LA high-speed train. Newly elected Gavin Newsom said the project would cost too much and take too long; the latest estimates were for four more years and $77 billion. The governor said a smaller project connecting the Central Valley towns of Merced and Bakersfield could still be on the table.
A French #MeToo scandal took down several high-profile journalists. The exposure of the Ligue de LOL—a private Facebook group where men mocked their female peers, using rape jokes and photoshopped pornography—resulted in several firings at papers like Libération.
A Thai princess apologized for her political aspirations. Ubolratana Rajakanya said on Instagram she was sorry that “my genuine intention to work for the country and Thai people has caused such problems that shouldn’t have happened in this era,” along with the hashtag #howcomeitsthewayitis. She was barred from running by her younger brother, the country’s king.
Quartz obsession interlude
Lost sounds: There’s no auditory record of human history before 1857, when a Parisian bookseller first figured out how to capture sound. But thanks to scientists, historians, programmers, musicians, and enthusiasts, some lost sounds are making a comeback. Read about the art and science of resurrecting history’s noise in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Amazon’s Eero acquisition is an ominous sign. The privacy and security Eero stood for are under threat now that it has new ownership.
Automating seduction is the worst tech idea. Communication, not pushing a button, is the key to a mature sexual relationship.
Water bottles have jumped the shark. Making an eco-conscious decision has become an expensive status symbol.
Surprising discoveries
Peppa Pig is giving American toddlers English accents. Parents also report a rise in pig-like snorting, “but that is expected.”
Chinese gamers are flocking to a parenthood simulation. The Chinese Parents game is reportedly boosting empathy towards demanding moms and dads.
A Houston stoner ran into an enormous, abandoned tiger. The man thought he was hallucinating when he broke into a vacant home.
Arabica coffee has lost its buzz. A predicted gap in bean production in Brazil is estimated to spike coffee prices by as much as 25% this year.
Canada is still being plagued by severed human feet on its beaches. Conspiracy theories abound, but officials say it’s just because shoes float.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, healthy tigers, and reunited feet 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 Adam Pasick and Susan Howson.