Quartz Daily Brief—Greece’s extension plea, SIM cards hacked, Apple car accelerates, speeded-up reruns
Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Finance ministers mull Greece’s fate. Euro zone finance ministers have convened for a pivotal meeting to consider Greece’s request for a six-month extension to its €240 billion ($272 billion) bailout, which expires at the end of the month. The proposed compromise deal is a significant U-turn for Greece’s new government, but Germany dismissed it as a “Trojan horse” that left “immense room for interpretation.”
US dockworkers and ship owners try to break a deadlock. Union leaders and shipping executives will try again to reach an agreement over a lapsed worker contract, after three days of fruitless negotiations. A nine-month slowdown at US west coast ports has caused shipping headaches including the disruption of Chinese New Year celebrations.
The US and Iran resume nuclear talks. Iranian officials have said that US secretary of state John Kerry will join the negotiations this weekend, though the US has not yet confirmed his participation. The talks come as a UN watchdog warns that Iran still hasn’t answered crucial questions about its nuclear weapon research.
This weekend: Saturday is World Pangolin Day. The adorable mammals that resemble “a cuddly cross between an armadillo and an artichoke” are in danger of becoming extinct due to their status as an illicit delicacy and source material for traditional medicine in China and Vietnam.
While you were sleeping
Ukraine accused rebels of disregarding a ceasefire. Pro-Russian separatists allegedly fired more than 50 rockets, mortars, and artillery shells at Ukrainian positions over the last 24 hours, despite a purported truce.
The US and UK hacked the world’s biggest SIM card provider. New documents provided by NSA leaker Edward Snowden to the Intercept shows that intelligence agencies stole encryption keys that enable them to snoop on mobile phone conversations around the world. Gemalto, the company that was targeted, produces some 2 billion SIM cards a year.
Apple is pushing for a car as early as 2020. The company is pursuing an aggressive timeline to bring an electric car to market, Bloomberg reports, as it faces the prospect of new all-electric models from other automakers. Apple’s automotive hiring spree includes engineers and executives from Tesla, Ford, and Mercedes, among others.
Dutch hooligans rampaged through Rome. Nearly two dozen supporters of the Dutch football team Feyenoord were arrested after a drunken brawl with teargas- and baton-wielding police near Rome’s historic Spanish Steps. The violence, which triggered protests by Italy’s prime minister, took place before Feyenoord’s match against Roma.
Obama’s tree grows—or at least doesn’t die—in Delhi. The Indian government issued a statement insisting that a ceremonial tree planted by the US president three weeks ago is still alive in the heavily polluted capital city, despite all appearances to the contrary. Shedding all leaves is a normal “seasonal phenomenon,” said an Indian government horticulturalist.
Quartz obsession interlude
Annalisa Merelli on the dream home Jackie O designed for JFK. ”According to one of his wife’s letters, president Kennedy was skeptical about the house but ended up “loving it.” She confided in her friend Bill Waxton that Wexford was a sign of success in her marriage: “I think we’re going to make it. I think we’re going to be a couple. I’ve won,” she told him during a dinner. Sadly, the family only spent a couple of weekends there in 1963—the last reportedly on Nov. 10, shortly before the president was assassinated.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Facebook needs to stop the anti-vaxxers. Unless CEO Mark Zuckerberg unfriends the crazies, more people will get hurt.
You’re not drinking enough coffee. A US government panel says drinking three to five cups daily has health benefits and few risks.
A ruinous ceasefire has put Ukraine’s president in jeopardy. And that suits Vladimir Putin just fine.
The decline in unions has hurt the American marriage. Falling male wages are leading to fewer weddings.
Siblings are the worst bullies. Bullying is more common in families than on the playground.
Surprising discoveries
TV stations are speeding up reruns. All the better to show you more advertising, of course.
Three out of four Americans wouldn’t take a free trip to space. Even if there’s a return trip included.
Arctic owls are camping out in New York. They’ve migrated south in an attempt to escape the cold.
Scientists are making a Google Maps for the brain. So that surgeons can explore your mind in 3D.
Kim Jong-un has a new haircut. And it’s a show-stopper.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, speedy reruns, and free space trips to [email protected]. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day.