Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
NATO holds an emergency meeting on the Iraq-Iran crisis. Ambassadors of the military alliance will gather in Brussels to discuss the situation in the Middle East following the US airstrike last week that killed Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian commander.
Carlos Ghosn could face the Lebanese judiciary. The former head of Renault-Nissan, who arrived in Beirut last week in a surprise escape (paywall) from house arrest in Japan, is expected to be heard by prosecutors today or tomorrow. They can decide whether to arrest him or let him remain free.
Harvey Weinstein’s trial begins. In the latest chapter of the #MeToo movement, the Hollywood producer will face charges of sexually assaulting two women. The proceedings in New York City will likely take a few months, and Weinstein could face life in prison if convicted.
Over the weekend
Iran pulled back from the 2015 nuclear deal. Tehran said it will abandon all limits established in the landmark agreement, including on uranium enrichment and production. Meanwhile, the Iraqi parliament voted to expel US troops from the country.
Masked assailants entered a New Delhi university. An armed mob assaulted students and teachers at Jawaharlal Nehru University yesterday night. The student union blamed the violence on the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a right-wing student body linked to India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party.
A pneumonia outbreak spread in China.
Authorities in the city of Wuhan
had been admitted to hospital with the unidentified form of the condition. Singapore also reported its
.
Croatia elected Zoran Milanović as president. The leftist former prime minister beat incumbent conservative Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović in a run-off. His win deals a blow to the ruling HDZ party.
Troops blocked Venezuela’s opposition lawmakers from parliament. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó and other politicians were prevented from entering the National Assembly for a crucial vote in which he was expected to be re-elected as head of congress. The move allowed the ruling Socialist party to install Luis Parra in the role.
Quartz membership
US president Dwight Eisenhower famously said, “I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.” In the Quartz at Work guide to structuring your day, Khe Hy explains how to overcome this dilemma—as well as why you need to schedule time in your calendar for “deep work.”
Quartz obsession
Hurricane hunters are true riders on the storm. When a hurricane or a typhoon begins lumbering across the ocean toward land, most of us hunker down or get out of the way. But one small group of adrenaline-loving scientists and pilots flies directly into the storm. Why would any sane person bother? Buckle up, the Quartz Obsession is going in.
Matters of debate
Inequality between cities makes people worse off. National governments should step in to level the playing field.
Office treats bring us back to a state of nature. The snack free-for-all requires strategy and cunning.
Science conferences need a revamp. The dull, presentation-centered format doesn’t align with how people think, learn, or get inspired.
Surprising discoveries
Chinese movers confiscated a kid’s world globe. They told a Beijing-based foreign reporter on her way out that her son’s globe made Taiwan look like an independent country.
Scotland is seeing a Gaelic boom thanks to Duolingo.
More than 127,000 people have signed up to
.
“Ethical veganism” is entitled to religious protections. A British court ruled it’s a philosophical belief that should be protected in the workplace.
The US has fought in every decade since its founding. The killing of Qassem Soleimani brings the country’s unbroken streak into the 2020s.
Australia’s bushfires generate their own weather systems. Hot air and smoke create thunderous “fire clouds” whose lightning can spread fires further.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, office treats, and state-approved globes to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.