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What to watch for today
Trump hosts Trudeau at the White House. The leaders are expected to discuss ratifying a revised trade deal, and whether the US can assist with the release of two Canadians held in China. Canada has been caught in the middle of US-China tensions (paywall) after detaining Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in December.
The US Senate votes on Saudi arms sales. Lawmakers from both parties hope to stymie a plan by the Trump administration to sell $8 billion in weapons to both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It’s unlikely that the vote will win the two-thirds support needed to override a presidential veto.
Imagining the escape from conflict. The UN invites people to #StepWithRefugees for World Refugee Day, in recognition of the 1 billion miles people walk each year in an attempt to reach safety. The number of people fleeing their countries reached a record high of 25.5 million in 2018, according to the UN’s annual report. Rich countries took in just 16%.
Slack goes public, and Canopy should show growth. The chat platform hopes it can convince investors that it is the future of work (paywall) as it launches its market debut through a direct listing process. Meanwhile, the cannabis industry’s biggest player will post fourth-quarter results that are expected to signal larger trends for an industry at risk of losing its buzz.
While you were sleeping
Xi Jinping arrived in North Korea. His two-day visit marks the first time a Chinese leader has set foot in the country in 14 years. In his meeting with Kim Jong Un, Xi is expected to try to help move diplomacy along, before the Chinese president meets other world leaders at the G20 summit in Japan next week.
Iran said it shot down a US spy drone. The Revolutionary Guard said the RQ-4 Global Hawk entered Iranian airspace in a southern province near the Strait of Hormuz. The US has denied that any of its drones entered Iranian territory. The incident highlights rising tensions between the two countries in the wake of attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
Hong Kong residents threatened more protests. Student groups warned they would mobilize again if key demands weren’t met, including that chief executive Carrie Lam resign, and that the semi-autonomous territory scrap an extradition bill that would allow suspects to be sent to the mainland. Lam has suspended the bill indefinitely and apologized, following weeks of mass demonstrations.
Renault and Nissan look to Waymo for direction. The carmakers signed a deal with the self-driving tech company to develop driverless car services in France, Japan, and potentially other countries in Asia. The deal comes as parts of the longtime Renault-Nissan alliance are being dismantled (paywall), in the wake of former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s arrest in Japan.
Interpol’s former president confessed to kick backs. Meng Hongwei, who disappeared into Chinese custody in 2016, is likely to be convicted after a Chinese court said that he admitted to taking more than $2 million in bribes. Meng’s France-based wife has suggested the case was politically motivated.
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Eight decades after the release of Reefer Madness and the emergence of the tactics that gave way to the US War on Drugs, the producers of CBD products in the US are helping cannabis shed its political and historical baggage, and re-emerge as a product that’s more wellness than weed. Jenni Avins continues her deep dive into the world of CBD to ask whether this feat of rebranding is a good thing.
Quartz Obsession
Milkshaking is just the latest example of protest rendered with food. Unlike the cream pie, which the founder of High Times magazine threw during a congressional hearing on censorship in media, or rotten tomatoes, long a visceral form of theater review, the milkshake as political statement started as a matter of convenience, rather than premeditation. Duck before the Quartz Obsession hits you with the details.
Matters of debate
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Sexual harassment training doesn’t work. Companies focus more on reducing liability than creating a safer working environment.
It’s better for the world if Facebook remains free. Users in developed countries subsidize services in the developing world.
Choosing a conscientious partner improves your health. Pairing up with an organized planner makes you live longer.
Surprising discoveries
Hyenas once roamed the Arctic. Fossils that have puzzled scientists for decades belong to a species we tend to associate with warmer climes.
China is creating an alternate reality about the Hong Kong protests. Real-time censorship in China is becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Jack Dorsey’s newest “wellness” gadget is bogus. There is virtually zero evidence that electromagnetic frequencies-blocking products offer health benefits.
Van Gogh’s possible suicide weapon was sold at auction. Though its authenticity is questionable, the revolver sold for €162,500 ($182,000).
India will soon be the world’s most populous country. A UN report predicts that China’s population will decrease, kicking it out of the top spot by 2027.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, shivering hyenas, and friendly milkshakes 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 Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof.