Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
US trade envoys meet with Xi Jinping. Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin and chief trade representative Robert Lighthizer will meet with the Chinese president with only a few days left on a truce that is set to expire March 1.
Renault’s chairman sits down with Nissan’s CEO. Jean-Dominique Senard and Hiroto Saikawa are reassessing their corporate partnership after the ouster of Carlos Ghosn.
Nigeria’s presidential election. There are more than 70 candidates, but Saturday will really be a two-horse race between incumbent Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party. Fears of violence are rising after five members of the ruling party were shot and killed in the country’s southeast.
Donald Trump declares a state of emergency at the US-Mexican border. The long-threatened maneuver, which undercuts congressional control of federal spending, is expected to take place after Trump signs bipartisan legislation to avert another government shutdown on Friday.
While you were sleeping
Amazon broke up with New York City on Valentine’s Day. The company, which had previously announced its plans to build a sprawling campus in Queens, said it was changing course due to mounting public opposition to the project. Unions and local officials were irate about the $2 billion in tax breaks and other incentives Amazon was set to receive.
Dismal US holiday sales signaled a rapidly declining economy. Sales fell 1.2%, the biggest decline since 2009, forcing economists to reduce their overall view of the US economy. The new government data may make it more likely that the Federal Reserve will hold off on further interest rate cuts due to weak domestic demand.
An insurgent bomb in Kashmir killed 40 Indian security forces. A car filled with explosives rammed a military bus in the deadliest attack since the insurgency against India began in 1989. The group Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility.
The crypto-skeptics at JPMorgan created their own cryptocurrency. The prototype “JPM Coin” is designed to speed up payments between corporate customers (paywall). The company, which has long voiced disdain for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, currently moves more than $5 trillion in wholesale payments per day.
Quartz obsession interlude
The Purdie Shuffle. When Steely Dan wanted something a bit different, legendary session drummer Bernard Purdie gave the band a beat that was entirely new: “half-time, funky, laid back.” Now it’s everywhere, from Led Zeppelin to Toto to Death Cab for Cutie. Drumroll please, for today’s Quartz Obsession.
Membership
For the crypto-curious, this may seem like a good time to take the plunge. But be warned: The crypto market comes with some big promises, big losses, and extreme volatility. Our interactive flowchart maps out a strategy for both a novice player and an experienced trader. Your best move depends on what you think the future holds and whether you’re prepared for what comes next. Quartz members can try it out here.
Matters of debate
India is planning its own Great Firewall. The Modi government’s new internet censorship plan is on par with China and Russia.
We should treat algorithms like prescription drugs. Using math to make high-stakes decisions is dangerous without detailed warning labels.
Urban jobs don’t equal urban growth. Only the super-rich win when a city grows via Amazon-style incentive deals.
Surprising discoveries
Happy? Sad? There’s a Lego face for that. Quartz collected 37,000 data points on 1,600 “minifigure” faces and found that they represent a range of complex emotions.
The future of robots is ants. The AntBot can self-navigate without the use of GPS by scanning UV rays, tracking its pace, and counting steps.
The Dutch have a mascot for Brexit. The government introduced a fluffy, blue monster (paywall) to educate citizens on the UK’s departure from the EU.
What does climate change taste like? German scientist are simulating the future to predict conditions for the country’s vineyards.
The TWA Hotel is open for business. Fans of mid-century modern globetrotting can book a stay at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport.
Correction: Yesterday we reported that an African black panther had been caught on camera for the first time in a century in Kenya. In fact, at least two other panthers have been photographed in the 21st century.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, room keys, and Brexit buddies 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.