Trump-Kim summit, India-Pakistan tensions, Amazon jungle whale

Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un meet… The Hanoi talks could result in a deal to lift US sanctions in return for Kim making good on his earlier promise to shut down North Korea’s most prominent nuclear facility. But few experts expect Kim to give up his nuclear weapons easily. Ahead of the summit, Trump and Vietnamese president Nguyen Phu Trong presided over the signing of $15.7 billion worth of deals (paywall) between Boeing and Vietnam’s airlines. [Quartz Daily Brief: America]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un meet… The Hanoi talks could [result in a deal]( to lift US sanctions in return for Kim making good on his earlier promise to shut down North Korea’s most prominent nuclear facility. But few experts expect Kim to give up his nuclear weapons easily. Ahead of the summit, Trump and Vietnamese president Nguyen Phu Trong presided over the signing of [$15.7 billion worth of deals]( (paywall) between Boeing and Vietnam’s airlines. Another day of Brexit votes. Lawmakers will [hold non-binding votes]( on a series of potential amendments to prime minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, likely including one by opposition Labour MP Yvette Cooper that would delay Brexit if May can’t win support for a deal by March 12. May [will also update parliament]( on her efforts to secure concessions from the EU on the deal. Michael Cohen testifies before Congress. Trump’s former attorney has signaled he will publicly accuse the president [of criminal conduct while in office]( (paywall), related to hush-money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Also testifying today are Fed chairman Jerome Powell, who will present on monetary policy to the House Financial Services Committee, and trade representative Robert Lighthizer, who will update the House on US-China negotiations. US lawmakers consider healthcare and guns. More than 100 Democrats [will unveil a Medicare plan]( (paywall) to provide public healthcare to every American. The proposed legislation has almost no chance of passing, but signals a shift in the healthcare reform debate. Lawmakers will also [consider legislation today that would require background checks]( for all firearm buyers. US retail takes stock of the holiday quarter. Bargain hunters are [likely to have boosted]( (pdf) discount store-owner TJX Companies’ fourth-quarter sales; while concerns over an economic growth slowdown may have impacted tech retailer Best Buy. Home improvement store Lowe’s is also expected to have built some momentum last quarter, although competitor Home Depot yesterday posted a slowdown in sales, [blaming bad weather]( (paywall). Sponsor content by Accenture Customer service should be 24/7. Luckily, AI never sleeps. Customers expect customized service experiences around the clock, and AI helps make that feasible. By leveraging AI, businesses can reimagine customer support, empower their workforce, and delight customers at the same time. Explore how Accenture combines the power of data, AI, analytics, and automation to [transform your business with speed and scale](. While you were sleeping India-Pakistan tensions ramped up. Islamabad said it [shot down two Indian fighter]( jets over Pakistani airspace today, a day after New Delhi launched air strikes following a blast in Indian-administered Kashmir earlier this month that left at least 42 soldiers dead. The events are expected [to be the focus]( of an annual summit between Russia, China, and India taking place today. US lawmakers blocked Trump’s border emergency. As expected, the House of Representatives [easily passed a resolution]( to overturn Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on the Mexican border, which would have allowed him to tap $5.7 billion in spending for his border wall. The measure now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate, where passage will be more difficult. Chinese electric-car maker BYD reported another drop in profit. The company [blamed intensifying competition]( in the Chinese auto market for the more than 30% drop in its preliminary net profit for 2018. A reduction in government subsidies and weak demand is also putting a squeeze on the sector. Nigeria’s president was re-elected. Muhammadu Buhari [defeated his main rival]( former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who [called the vote]( a “sham.” Pockets of violence and claims of vote rigging have marred the election in Africa’s largest economy. China clamped down on rogue scientists. Beijing announced new rules on biotechnology research, including [fines and penalties]( for unauthorized research. The measures follow a controversial claim by a Chinese scientist that he had created [gene-edited twins](. Lego looked sturdy. The colorful plastic bricks-maker posted a [healthy bump in sales]( for 2018, reversing a slump that saw sales drop in 2017 for the first time in a decade. Healthy demand in China, Harry Potter and Star Wars-themed building sets, and AR integration drove the boost. Quartz Obsession Pickup trucks: They’re right up there with apple pie on the list of things that signify America. But now their rugged, flat-bed utility makes them increasingly desired all over the world—despite the heavy environmental costs. [Roll up here]( for today’s Quartz Obsession. Membership As pension liabilities grow and populations age, the payments governments owe employees threaten to crowd out other spending for things like schools and roads, and could make even reasonable debt levels unsustainable. In today’s Tipping Points feature, Allison Schrager examines the looming [$78 trillion pension crisis](. Matters of debate [Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!]( We need a new word to describe female militants. The tabloid “[jihadi bride]( masks a complicated debate about the agency of women. Apple sees you when you’re sleeping. The company’s rumored [Apple Watch sleep tracking app]( is spotlighting its privacy policies. Cutting your personal carbon footprint won’t end climate change. A global political solution is the [only possible answer](. Message from our Partner Did you know 64% of people reading about #Leadership are also reading about #Science? In today’s cluttered media landscape, it is essential to understand your audience and the stories that shape their lives. Find your audience where you’d least expect them on [Flipboard](. Surprising discoveries A whale carcass was found in the Amazon jungle. The juvenile humpback may have been [pulled into the mangroves]( by the tide. Pet gadgets are the new smartphones. As phone sales lag, companies are rolling out [canine exercise trackers and smart litter boxes](. Internet vigilantes are taking down psychics who snoop on social media. The group Guerrilla Skeptics [sets up fake Facebook profiles]( (paywall) to ensnare huckster mediums. Rotten Tomatoes is under siege from “Captain Marvel” haters. The site deleted a category of user reviews after [an organized campaign by sexist trolls](. The US wants to turn tanks into AI-powered killing machines. A proposed weapons system would be able to [autonomously target and fire weapons](. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, lost whales, and cat apps to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by [downloading our app]( and [becoming a member](. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof. 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](.