Merkel and Macron speak, Nigerian bobsledders, shrinking countries

[Quartz - qz.com]() Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron speak at Davos. After a two-year absence from the event, the German chancellor is likely to stick to [her familiar script]( of openness and European integration, with the French president delivering a similar message. Get the [Quartz Davos Daily Brief]( for in-depth coverage of the event. Whirlpool reports its earnings and looks ahead. The US maker of home appliances is in the spotlight after Donald Trump approved controversial tariffs on imported washing machines, with an eye towards South Korean companies in particular. Investors want to see how the trade action [affects the company’s forecast]( (pdf). A Brazilian court rules on Lula’s appeal. Three judges in Porto Alegre [will rule on whether]( to uphold or suspend the nine-and-a-half-year jail term for former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on corruption charges. Authorities are bracing for massive protests in the southern city by people both for and against Lula. Sponsor content by Stitch Fix What do computational neurologists and personal stylists have in common? They both want to help you upgrade your wardrobe. Find out what happens when this dynamic duo pairs up. Your may find the [wardrobe boost you’ve been seeking](. While you were sleeping Gunmen stormed Save the Children’s offices in Afghanistan. At least 11 people [have been hurt in the attack]( after a suicide bomber detonated a device at the entrance to the aid agency’s compound in Jalalabad. Armed men later entered the compound, and are still battling Afghan security forces. Chung Hyeon cruised to the semis of the Australian Open. The 21-year-old [became the first Korean tennis player]( to reach this far in a Grand Slam, after he beat American Tennys Sandgren—he’ll play Roger Federer or Tomáš Berdych next Friday. Toys “R” Us is shutting 180 stores in the US. Four months after it filed for bankruptcy, the retailer [announced the shuttering]( of about one-fifth of its stores in the US. Most of the closures will be Babies “R” Us stores. Shinzo Abe said he will attend the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Earlier reports suggested the Japanese prime minister would [skip the games]( due to a dispute over Korean “comfort women” forced to work in wartime military brothels. Abe [made a splash]( at the Summer Olympics in Brazil as Nintendo’s Mario. Quartz obsession interlude Yomi Kazeem on Africa’s first ever Olympics bobsled team. “For the athletes, their success has not come easy. All three used to be track and field athletes and pretty much had to learn the new sport. But participating in a sport that many Nigerians have likely never heard of or found interesting was always going to be a difficult sell. That much was clear when the team had to set up a national bobsled federation in December 2016 because, well, Nigeria has never had one.” [Read more here](. Matters of debate Life hacks are part of a 200-year-old movement to destroy your humanity. The goal is to [make work the center of our lives](. The most common excuses for not having enough women leaders are myths. The [current mentality places]( the onus for change on women, rather than on workplaces that were designed from a male perspective. Beauty brands want diverse faces, not diverse voices. Spokesmodels are reduced to pretty faces when they’re asked to [take the fall for their political beliefs](. Message from our Partner For the first time, Davos is 100% led by women. But can you name the co-chairs? [Meet the women]( leading the World Economic Forum’s 48th Annual Meeting, and learn more about the Equality Lounge—the hub for conversation about diversity and inclusion at the global conference. Surprising discoveries The 10 fastest shrinking countries on earth are in Eastern Europe. Falling fertility rates, massive out-migration, and relatively high mortality [are to blame](. “Good morning!” messages are choking India’s smartphones. The mass greetings from elderly relatives are eating up memory on [low-end Android devices]( (paywall). Russia’s latest subversive meme is a parody of a 15-year-old techno tune. Groups of people all over Russia are posting their versions of the music video to [Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction,”]( heavy with homoerotic imagery. Trump gave sharks a boost. After the president remarked that “all the sharks die,” shark-related conservation groups [received a bump]( in donations. There’s already been 11 school shootings in the US this year. [The latest one]( (paywall) was in Benton, Kentucky, which left two 15-year-olds dead and 18 injured yesterday. Our best wishes for a productive day. 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