US economy health check, Uber exits South East Asia, stowaway stink bugs

[Quartz - qz.com]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Donald Trump may expel Russian diplomats. The president is reportedly on the cusp of expelling [dozens of Russian diplomats]( from the US, following the poisoning of secret agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the UK. His announcement is expected as early as today, according to Bloomberg. Egyptians vote on a second term for president Abdul Fattah al-Sisi. The result is pretty much a [foregone conclusion]( as all the other challengers have withdrawn, leaving a little-known centrist politician as the only other candidate. An update on the US economy’s health. The Chicago Fed [will release]( its monthly national activity index. The last release showed that the American economy had [ticked down slightly in January]( owing to a slowdown in factory activity. Sponsor content by SpringHill Suites by Marriott Treating others like you'd like to be treated. This has always been SpringHill Suites by Marriott's guiding principle. [Watch real stories]( about how they live every day by the #GoldenRule. Over the weekend Uber sold its Southeast Asia business to Grab. It marks the second retreat from an Asian market—the first being China—by the ride-hailing company. Though Uber will get a 27% stake in Singapore-based Grab, the sale [calls into question]( its strategy of barging into markets around the world. Germany arrested the former leader of Catalonia. German police [are holding Carles Puigdemont]( who is wanted in Spain for sedition. Last week, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that the leaders of Catalonia, should be tried on various charges, which led to mass [demonstrations]( on the streets of Barcelona at the weekend. Stormy Daniels said she was threatened to keep quiet about Trump. In a 60 Minutes interview, the adult film actress said the threat came from a man in Las Vegas in 2011 [after she attempted to sell her story]( about an alleged 2006 affair with the future US president. European sportswear retailer JD Sports bought The Finish Line. JD is paying $558 million for [the US company]( which will give it a “major presence” in the US. The Finish Line has more than 550 stores in the US, plus hundreds of branded concessions. The US exempted South Korea from its new steel tariffs. Instead, it will impose a quota on steel imports, with the two countries [agreeing in principle]( to revisions to a trade pact that Trump had called “horrible.” Seoul promised greater access for US carmakers. Students in the US marched for their lives. In cities around the country, [celebrities]( and young Americans [called for tighter gun laws]( and voiced their outrage at the lack of action by politicians. The “March for Our Lives” demonstrations were prompted by the mass shootings in US schools, the latest in Parkland, Florida last month. Quartz obsession interlude Anne Quito on rediscovering the world through your nose. “The simple act of inhaling the odors you encounter—fragrant, foul and everything in between—is a solid starting point to olfactory awareness. Developing your nose not only opens you up to a range of new sensory palettes. It can also help you enjoy food and become more aware of how designed chemicals alter your mood.” [Read more here](. Matters of debate Facebook is too big to fail. It would take a lot to [lose 2 billion people]( overnight, and even if users leave, there isn’t anywhere particularly great to go to that isn’t Facebook-owned. Ethically dubious startups are inherent to Silicon Valley. Companies such as Theranos and Zenefits are a [feature of the tech-innovation hub]( not a bug. Stormy Daniels is a real threat to Donald Trump. The way he and his people have tried to cover up the scandal has put the [president in a bind](. Surprising discoveries Stowaway stink bugs bit into New Zealand car imports. It turned away 8,000 cars in February after infestations were discovered on [shipments from Japan]( (paywall). You could soon get shooting stars on demand. One firm [plans to fill the sky]( over Japan with colorful arcs by releasing metallic pebbles from a satellite. Orange snow is falling in Eastern Europe. Sand from desert storms in the Sahara is [mixing with snow and rain]( and falling in countries including Russia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. A Flat Earther took off in a homemade rocket. “Mad” Mike Hughes launched himself 1,875 ft (572 m) into the air to prove to himself that Earth is shaped “[like a Frisbee]( Amazon is the best place to work in the US. LinkedIn went through “[billions of actions]( taken by its 500 million members to come to that conclusion. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Amazon job openings, and homemade rockets to hi@qz.com. You can follow us [on Twitter]( for updates throughout the day or download our [apps for iPhone]( and [Android](. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Jill Petzinger and edited by Lianna Brinded. Enjoying the Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here to sign up.]( If you click a link to an e-commerce site and make a purchase, we may receive a small cut of the revenue, which helps support our ambitious journalism. See [here]( for more information. To unsubscribe from the Quartz Daily Brief, [click here](.