Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Microsoft reports annual earnings. Now the world’s most valuable listed company, worth more than $1 trillion, the tech giant is expected to report double-digit revenue growth for the second fiscal year in a row, potentially pushing shares even higher. Microsoft yesterday announced a $2 billion cloud deal with AT&T.
Qualcomm faces an EU antitrust fine. The world’s largest chipmaker could be fined for using predatory pricing to force a rival from the market between 2009 and 2011. The move comes a day after the EU opened an antitrust probe into Amazon, seen as a parting shot by outgoing competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager.
The Dutch prime minister visits the White House. Mark Rutte will meet US president Donald Trump to discuss trade, defense, and security cooperation. The US had earlier requested Dutch help to protect ships in the Persian Gulf, but Rutte is not expected to give a firm answer on that.
Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, and 50 Cent perform in Saudi Arabia. They’re on the lineup for Jeddah World Fest, the concert that Nicki Minaj pulled out of due to the kingdom’s poor human rights record.
While you were sleeping
The US House voted to hold two cabinet officials in criminal contempt. Attorney general William Barr and commerce secretary Wilbur Ross may now be taken to federal court. The two refused to hand over key documents on the administration’s blocked attempts to put a citizenship question in the 2020 census.
Trump intensified his attacks on Ilhan Omar. At a North Carolina campaign rally, the president reiterated his call for the congresswoman to return to her country of origin—eliciting chants of “Send her back!” in the crowd—and falsely accused her of praising al-Qaeda.
More than 10 are feared dead after an arson attack on an animation studio in Japan. A man was seen pouring what may have been gasoline around the Kyoto Animation building.
South Korea’s central bank unexpectedly cut interest rates. The Bank of Korea’s first interest rate cut in three years comes after almost a year of sluggish growth, held back by an unresolved trade dispute with Japan.
A Bulgarian hacker was charged with the country’s largest-ever data breach. The cybersecurity worker faces up to eight years in prison after he accessed the personal and financial records of almost 5 million Bulgarians held by the country’s tax agency.
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Silicon Valley philanthropists want to stop the singularity. Reporter Natasha Frost’s field guide about the changing world of philanthropy today explores the aims of “effective altruism,” a movement praised by Bill Gates and Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. Curious about how philanthropy is growing worldwide? Ten charts tell the story.
Quartz Obsession
Steve Jobs loved whiteboards. Apple Park in Cupertino is filled with them, as are conference rooms and classrooms around the world. They’re a clean and efficient way to brainstorm and collaborate, but blackboard enthusiasts still insist on sticking with chalk dust. The Quartz Obsession draws it out.
Matters of debate
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Dusting is a waste of time. There’s no better metaphor for the futility of human existence.
Governments should subsidize e-bikes. They’re cheaper than electric cars, and a lot of our trips are short enough to cover on two wheels.
CMOs’ days are numbered. The chief marketing role might not survive the internet age.
Surprising discoveries
A message-in-a-bottle finally found a reader. The 50-year-old note was found off the South Australian coast by a local boy, who has since sent a reply to the original author.
FaceApp faces privacy concerns. US Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called for an FBI investigation into the viral photo-editing app because it poses national security and privacy risks.
Black rhinos will enter the bond market. Conservationists hope to use financial instruments to fund the endangered animals’ salvation.
Sotheby’s is auctioning 50-year-old fruit cake. The dusty dessert is part of a vast trove of moon-landing memorabilia expected to sell for millions of dollars.
Proposing a new emoji just got easier. The Unicode Consortium streamlined the process for submitting your ideas.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, old cakes, and creative emojis to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member (use code DAILYBRIEF for 20% off). Today’s Daily Brief was written by Natasha Frost and edited by Jason Karaian.