Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Mario Draghi addresses the European Parliament. The European Central Bank president will likely face questions (paywall) on his expansive monetary policy. Last week Donald Trump’s top trade adviser accused Germany of using a “grossly undervalued” euro to gain an unfair trade advantage. Over the weekend Germany’s finance minister said the ECB is to blame for the euro being too low.
Angela Merkel gets a key endorsement. Faced with increasing voter support for the rival Social Democrats, the German chancellor’s conservative bloc is expected to throw its weight behind her re-election bid, despite divisions over the country’s refugee policy. The Christian Democrats and Christian Socialists are meeting in Munich to discuss their strategy for the September election.
Tech’s rebuke to Trump’s immigration ban. Netflix, Twitter, and other tech firms have signed a letter objecting to the US president’s executive order on immigration, and they plan to officially submit it today. The US court system is already doing its part to make the order moot, first with a Seattle judge’s temporary restraining order against the ban and then an appellate court’s decision not to immediately lift that order.
Over the weekend
The new US defense secretary set the Japanese government at ease. James Mattis described Japan’s cost sharing for the US forces it hosts as a “model” for other countries, and called for a strengthening of its defense capabilities. Relieved Japanese officials took his comments as an indication that they will not be asked to shoulder more of the expenses.
The United Arab Emirates opened up. The UAE, which currently doesn’t offer permanent residency to foreign workers, approved a “specialized visa” system to attract medical and research talent into its borders. Prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the news on Twitter.
Donald Trump defended his respect for Vladimir Putin. Never mind that the Russian leader is accused of being tied to a long list of murderous plots. “What? Do you think our country’s so innocent?” Trump asked rhetorically in an interview with Bill O’Reilly on Fox News.
A French presidential candidate campaigned by hologram. Jean-Luc Mélenchon launched his presidential bid in person in Lyon, while a 3D image of him did the same in Paris. Radio station Europe 1 was duly impressed: “Mélenchon killed it for innovation in political communication this year,” it tweeted (link in French).
The New England Patriots mounted an improbable comeback to win the Super Bowl. Star quarterback Tom Brady said at the end, “We never felt out of it.” Most teams would have. The Patriots trailed the high-powered Atlanta Falcons by 25 points before clinching their fifth Super Bowl victory.
Quartz obsession interlude
Leslie Josephs on lessons for cities trying to curb air pollution with vehicle restrictions: “In 2008, Mexico City expanded its Hoy No Circula program in which residents had to keep their cars off the street one weekday each week, determined by the last numeral in their license plates, to include restrictions to Saturdays. That was supposed to reduce air pollution by around 15%, but a new study published on Feb. 2 in Scientific Reports found ‘little evidence that the program expansion improved air quality.'” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Countries need digital ambassadors to deal with the likes of Facebook and Google. Denmark plans to appoint one.
Africa’s cellular providers should fight government-ordered internet blackouts. They have the clout, if only they would use it.
The best example of leading in the free world can now be found in Canada. It’s not a perfect country, but it’s exceedingly hospitable to refugees (paywall).
Surprising discoveries
Pioneers on wheels. The Middle East’s first female roller derby team is revolutionary on and off the court.
UPS drivers don’t turn left. It’s a strategic choice, and it saves 10 million gallons of gas a year.
No laws govern the deepest parts of the world’s oceans. Some marine ecologists think such areas should be protected from corporate interests.
Bees can disrupt cricket. A swarm of bees delayed a cricket match in Johannesburg between South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Vaporized tobacco is huge in Japan. Japan Tobacco has been caught flat-footed by surging demand for its pen-shaped Ploom Tech device.
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