Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Theresa May goes to Brussels. The British prime minister will meet with top European Union official Jean-Claude Juncker days after a vote over her Brexit negotiation strategy was defeated in parliament again. The EU has reiterated that it will not repoen discussions over the withdrawal agreement between the two sides or over the Irish “backstop.”
The Fed releases its January minutes. Investors will be looking for more clarity from the US Federal Reserve on its monetary policy for 2019 after it increased interest rates four times last year and held steady last month. They’re also seeking comments on how it plans to reduce its holdings of $4 trillion in bonds, and inflation expectations.
South Africa announces its budget. Finance minister Tito Mboweni is under pressure to alleviate the country’s persistent budget deficit, with power utility Eskom’s ballooning debt (paywall)—most of it guaranteed by the state—a major concern.
Shinzo Abe has an awkward phone call with Donald Trump. The Japanese prime minister and US president are due to have a pre-game conversation (paywall) ahead of Trump’s summit with Kim Jong Un later this month—and shortly after Trump boasted that Abe nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize.
The debut of Carlos Ghosn’s new legal team. Junichiro “the Razor” Hironaka (paywall) will hold his first press conference after taking over the defense of the former Nissan chairman. Japan’s legal system has a 99% conviction rate, but “the Razor” has secured several high-profile acquittals.
While you were sleeping
The “MAGA teen” from a Catholic high school is suing the Washington Post. Nicholas Sandmann, 16, who went viral in January after he was captured on video during what many took to be a confrontation between him and a Native American elder, is suing the newspaper for $250 million. His family allege that the Post caused damage to his reputation by failing to verify the context of the video and portraying him as a racist.
Venezuela deepened efforts to block the entry of humanitarian aid. The government closed the country’s maritime border with Dutch-ruled Caribbean islands after opposition leader Juan Guaidó said that food and medicine provided in part by the US will enter Venezuela by sea and land on the weekend. President Nicolas Maduro has called the efforts a “cheap show” by the US.
Another UK Labour party member defected to a new political group. Joan Ryan became the eighth member of parliament to join the Independent Group, which launched on Monday with seven Labour lawmakers who quit due to growing anger over the party’s handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism, and opposition to Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
The British Home Office revoked the citizenship of a teenager who joined ISIS. Shamima Begum, 19, joined the Islamist group when she was 15, and was found heavily pregnant last week in a Syrian refugee camp. Begum, who gave birth on Sunday, says she doesn’t regret joining ISIS, but now only wants to raise her child quietly in the UK and insists she isn’t a threat to anyone.
Membership
Steve Ballmer’s pivotal role in Microsoft’s comeback. It’s easy to poke fun at the foibles of the company’s former CEO. Though he missed the boat on search, mobile, and streaming media, Ballmer set the stage for Microsoft as it stands today: a company that could evolve into something even bigger. Read why a man known for his mistakes should be lauded for his successes.
Quartz Obsession
Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s still going strong, with 276 books over a quarter century, plus a podcast, a radio network, educational materials, and even pet food. The brand is publicly traded and into the streaming business as well, with the rights to Roseanne and the Ernest movies. That’s a big pot of money for a little book rejected by 33 publishers. Get inspired with today’s Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Women of color take more risks at work. Being accustomed to inequality helps encourage bold moves in the office.
Governments can be run like tech companies. Estonia is prioritizing efficiency, security, and trust.
Direct employment is a thing of the past. From Walmart to Google, businesses are trying to hire as few people as possible.
Surprising discoveries
Young blood isn’t the fountain of youth. US drug regulators say plasma injections are based on junk science.
Burberry apologized for its “noose hoodie.” The fashion house dressed a model in a hoodie with strings tied in the shape of a noose during London Fashion Week, a look it said was nautical-themed.
Emojis are coming to Australian license plates. Drivers in Queensland will be able to choose from basic smileys for a A$500 ($350) fee.
The Grand Canyon has been irradiating tourists for nearly two decades. The US National Park Service was allegedly storing highly radioactive uranium in its museum.
How I met your mother: “We swiped right.” Meet-cute stories are getting a lot shorter thanks to online dating.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, self-help books, and meet-cutes 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 Isabella Steger and edited by Tripti Lahiri.