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
Mike Pompeo arrives in Poland to discuss the Middle East. The US secretary of state will give a keynote address at the security event. Several key diplomats have declined to attend, amid a widening rift (paywall) between the US and its traditional EU partners over Iran.
The US Senate votes to confirm president Donald Trump’s attorney-general nominee. William Barr is expected to win confirmation as early as today, despite Democrats’ concern on how he might handle special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in US elections.
Trump ponders a bipartisan border security deal. Republican leaders want the president to sign (paywall) what they consider a “pretty good deal” in order to forestall another government shutdown scheduled to begin on Friday. Trump yesterday expressed displeasure with the deal, saying he needs more border wall funding.
The EU cracks down on Saudi financial transactions. The kingdom, along with Panama and North Korea, will be added to a European Union watchlist of 23 countries (paywall) that pose higher risks of terrorist financing, money laundering, and other illicit financial flows.
The latest cost-of-living data is released. Analysts expect today’s Labor Department inflation rate data to ease slightly—moderate inflation and rising wages have helped Americans extend their paychecks a bit further over the last year. Meanwhile, cheaper energy prices helped pushed UK inflation to a two-year low today.
While you were sleeping
Trade hopes pushed up Asian markets. Stocks hit a four-month high after Trump said Tuesday that he might extend the March 1 deadline to resolve the year-long trade dispute with China. Negotiators meet tomorrow for the final round of talks, but analysts remain concerned over whether the Trump administration will accept any proposed deal.
The EU agreed on controls for natural gas pipelines. The rules have divided the bloc, with Eastern European and Nordic countries worrying they will increase reliance on Russia. The regulations will delay, but not stop, the construction of Russia’s 760-mile Nord Stream 2 pipeline by adding more demands, such as allowing 10% of the capacity in the pipeline to be available to third parties.
California’s newly elected governor called off a San Francisco-LA high-speed train. Gavin Newsom said the project, estimated to take four years and cost $77 billion, wasn’t feasible, but that a smaller project connecting the Central Valley towns of Merced and Bakersfield could still be on the table.
Australia decided to reopen an immigration detention camp on Christmas Island. Prime minister Scott Morrison said he expects the number of migrants arriving by boat to increase after Australia passed a law this week that could make it easier for unwell asylum seekers to be treated in the country’s hospitals.
A wire fox terrier won Westminster, again. King was the 15th of his breed to be crowned (paywall) best in show at New York’s annual Westminster Dog Show. He beat out five other finalists from a field of more than 3,000 dogs.
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.
Membership
Our field guide on cryptocurrency brings you a thought-provoking essay by Matt De Silva about privacy coins and how they may have a bigger future than Bitcoin (which is less anonymous than is often admitted). And in this week’s Tipping Points feature, Allison Schrager looks at how to value the money you haven’t made yet.
Matters of debate
Amazon’s latest acquisition is an ominous sign. Eero’s hallmark privacy and security features risk being eroded by its new owners.
Schools need to teach fact-checking. Young people are struggling more than ever to judge the credibility of online information.
Water bottles have jumped the shark. The eco-conscious item 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 (paywall) 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 is about to get a jolt. A gap in Brazilian bean production could cause coffee prices to spike as much as 25% this year.
Canada is 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, bougie water bottles, and stockpiles of coffee 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 Akshat Rathi and edited by Jackie Bischof.