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What to watch for today
Emmanuel Macron visits Kenya. The first-ever trip by a French president to the country is part of a pan-African tour to challenge China’s increasing influence on the continent.
The specter of a no-deal Brexit visits the UK parliament. After banishing visions of a negotiated exit from the European Union, British lawmakers will vote on leaving without a deal . If they vote “no” to that, they will be visited by a third Brexit vision tomorrow: delaying the March 29 departure. Ahead of today’s vote, the government will provide more information about what happens to trade and the Irish border without a deal. Here’s a flowchart of possible outcomes.
Paul Manafort is sentenced for the second time. Donald Trump’s former campaign manager has pleaded guilty to conspiracy over lobbying for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians, in a case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller. In a parallel case last week in Virginia, Manafort received a lighter-than-expected sentence for tax fraud and other charges.
The US Senate votes on ending aid to the Saudi war in Yemen. The previous Senate passed a similar resolution in December, a rebuke to president Trump over his support to the Saudi kingdom even after the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post columnist. But it did not proceed further prior to the seating of a new Congress.
California suspends the death penalty. Governor Gavin Newsom will grant a reprieve to the state’s 737 condemned inmates, the Western Hemisphere’s largest death row. Opponents of capital punishment hope the move will spur other states to end executions.
While you were sleeping
The US aviation regulator doubled down on its Boeing 737 Max 8 stance. The Federal Aviation Administration reaffirmed its decision not to ground the aircraft model after two major crashes in five months, leaving the US virtually alone as its counterparts in Europe and around the world halted flights by the Boeing plane.
George Pell was sentenced to six years for child sex abuse. The Australian cardinal and former adviser to Pope Francis was convicted last December of molesting choir boys more than two decades ago. He is the most senior Roman Catholic leader ever found guilty of sexual abuse.
Uber hired more investment banks as it prepares to go public. The ride-sharing company added more than half a dozen banks to its IPO underwriting team in anticipation of listing publicly as early as the first half of 2019. Its rival Lyft is expected to list at the end of this month.
The Pentagon barred most transgender troops. The new rules, which take effect next month, fall short of the complete transgender-ban that the president had sought, but will largely bar recruits from transitioning to another sex and require most individuals to serve in their birth gender.
The Man Booker International Prize unveiled its longlist. All but two of the 13 finalists were published by indie presses as the panel of judges praised the authors for “enriching our idea of what fiction can do.”
Membership
We have a Q&A with Angela Rodell, director of Alaska’s $60 billion sovereign wealth fund, which Hillary Clinton once considered proposing as a model for a similar nationwide program. There’s also a new installment of Private Key that explores just how a bitcoin investment can go horribly wrong.
Quartz Obsession
Stalking the history of celery, a forgotten status symbol in Victorian England: The tricky-to-grow swamp plant was once considered an exotic delicacy—and even inspired specific tableware designed to show it off. How did the fibrous stalk fall to the bottom of the crudité platter? Find out in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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The gender pay gap is more than just discrimination. Cultural norms influence the perception that women are less flexible employees who may not stick around.
It’s not pepperoni unless it curls on your pizza. Flat discs have been the norm for decades, but grease-filled pepperoni cups are arguably the true measure of a good pie.
College admissions have never been fair. Test scores are more accurately privilege scores—and it’s all entirely legal.
Surprising discoveries
Brexit has become a mental health issue. The National Health Service is gearing up to treat patients who constantly worry about their livelihoods.
Opioids are decimating the US labor pool. Research found that addiction significantly impacted male participation in the US labor market.
Salmonella is perfectly happy to live in dry food. A Pillsbury flour recall is a reminder that bacteria adapt quickly to unlikely conditions.
The sun blasted Earth with radiation in 660 BC. If the solar storm had hit today, it would have sickened astronauts and taken out electrical grids.
Nobody leaves baby in an airport. A Saudi plane made an in-air about-face when a passenger realized she’d left her infant in the terminal.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, uncontaminated cookie dough, and pepperoni cups 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 Mary Hui and edited by Tripti Lahiri.