Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Cyprus leaders begin a week of intense meetings in Geneva. The discussions will mark a new phase in efforts to reunify the Turkish and Greek sides of the divided Mediterranean island. Such talks have been breaking down for decades, but UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says this week marks an “historic opportunity” for a breakthrough.
Environmental groups protest Trump’s cabinet selections. At senators’ offices across the US, they plan to rally against his picks for the state, energy, and environmental protection departments. This week the Republican-controlled Senate is scheduled to hold (paywall) at least nine confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet nominees.
The iPhone turns 10. Apple’s founder and then-CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007, declaring that his company was re-inventing the phone. Today, it is Apple’s biggest source of revenue, although sales slumped in 2016 as the market has become more saturated with smartphones.
Over the weekend
Hollywood kicked off its award season with the Golden Globes. The Oscars “pre-game” was dominated by the musical La La Land, which danced off with seven awards. Meryl Streep gave a scathing review of Donald Trump’s “performance,” and on the red carpet a trio of actresses wore tuxedos to remind viewers that dresses “aren’t a requirement.”
Four were killed in a Jerusalem attack. Three women and one man were killed, and 17 others injured, after a Palestinian man drove a lorry into a group of soldiers, according to police. It is being described as a terror attack.
The Florida airport shooter could face the death penalty. Federal prosecutors charged Esteban Santiago with an act of violence at an international airport resulting in death. The National Guard veteran allegedly killed five people and injured six in a shooting at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Britain wants its border controls back. British prime minister Theresa May said Brexit would mean leaving the European single market in order to get back full control of Britain’s borders again. She also said Britain would work out trade deals with the EU.
Ex-Iranian president Rafsanjani died. Seen as a moderate, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani died at the age of 82. A former close aide to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, he went on to be president from 1989 to 1997.
Quartz obsession interlude
Jenni Avins on a genius cooking strategy for preparing meals for the entire week. “The cooking system designed by Hesser and Stubbs aims to simplify the process of grocery shopping, menu-planning, and cooking. But rather than compelling cooks to whip up a whole new dish every day or two, the book advises readers to invest a few hours of weekend kitchen time to create meal components to be mixed and matched throughout the week.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Hyperlocal currencies are great in theory but not in practice. Aiming to support area businesses, they often fail because of liquidity and trust barriers.
It pays to be brutally honest in the workplace. Some British companies are encouraging “radical candor” in employee feedback.
South Africa’s beaches are racially political spaces. Black people enjoying them still isn’t a normal sight.
Surprising discoveries
A Taiwan official’s funeral featured 50 pole dancers on colorful Jeeps. According to local custom, the more people attend a funeral, the bigger the honor it is for the deceased.
London breached its 2017 pollution limit in just five days. The year is off to a bad start: According to the law, the city can only cross this threshold 18 times in 365 days.
A Brazilian grandmother for years accidentally prayed to Elrond, an elf from The Lord of the Rings. She thought she was worshipping St. Anthony.
A doctor’s poem about smog causing cancer went viral in China. Though it states the obvious, the work has struck a chord and raised awareness.
Fences erected to stop refugees getting into Europe are threatening the continent’s wildlife. The barriers cause inbreeding, weaker animals, and falling populations.
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