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What to watch for today
Morgan Stanley reports earnings. The last of the major US banks to report this week follows mostly positive results from JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America. Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs disappointed as profits were hit by big litigation costs.
Michael Bloomberg pitches Silicon Valley. At a private reception in a San Francisco gallery, the billionaire presidential hopeful seeks the support of the tech elite for his longshot run.
EU and US trade chiefs get together. Tensions between Washington and Brussels remain high in the wake of threats from US president Donald Trump to tax European goods, and most recently over France’s digital services tax.
Prince Harry is back at work today. Despite announcing a shock departure from royal life last week, the Duke of Sussex is hosting the draw for the Rugby League World Cup.
While you were sleeping
Tesla registrations dropped by almost half in California… Registrations in the state, a big market for the electric carmaker, fell from 25,400 in the last quarter of 2018 to 13,580 in the same period last year, as tax credits for buyers ended.
…and it posted a recruitment ad for a new research and design center in China. Tesla said it wants to make “Chinese-style” vehicles, and the closing date for applications for designers and engineers is Feb. 1, despite the glaring omission of a specific location.
Russia’s ruling party approved Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister. The “technocratic placeholder” is close to replacing Dmitry Medvedev, who resigned yesterday after Vladimir Putin proposed controversial constitutional changes.
Shares in HelloFresh spiked. The German meal-kit delivery company said its sales and profits are better than expected. It has done well in the US, outperforming its American rival Blue Apron.
After almost three years, Turkey lifted its ban on Wikipedia. The country blocked the site in 2017, after the online encyclopedia refused to remove entries that claimed the Turkish government was collaborating with terrorist groups.
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Matters of debate
Forget celebrity chefs, we need celebrity waiters. The people taking care of customers are just as important as the ones doing the cooking.
There’s a streaming war. The companies won’t admit it—for good reason.
Philosophy is the new self-help. The writings of Nietzsche and Seneca teach us about what we can and can’t control.
Surprising discoveries
Previously unseen footage of David Bowie has been released. The 30 minutes of experimental film was for a hologram.
Navy SEALs bought 450 counterfeit radio antennas. The “US-made” equipment actually came from China.
There is a Spotify playlist for lonely dogs. There is also a pup-friendly podcast.
The bushfires in Australia destroyed a vintage surfboard collection. Some of the 260 hand-crafted boards were made in the 1960s.
Internet Explorer is finally dead. Microsoft Edge has replaced the OG.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, celebrity waiters, and US-made Chinese goods 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 brought to you by Luiz Romero and Hasit Shah.