Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Boeing’s new CEO takes office. David Calhoun has a lot on his plate, including restoring the company’s safety record and reintroducing the 737 Max.
France holds a summit on jihadist violence. The leaders of five African nations face questions on how they have confronted Islamist extremism, amid the possibility of French and American troop removals from the Sahel region of the continent.
Nominations for the 2020 Oscars are announced. Will Parasite receive Korea’s first-ever best-picture nod? Will movies about, and made by, women keep getting snubbed? Will we be in for another #OscarsSoWhite? The Academy reveals its nominees ahead of presenting the awards Feb. 9.
Over the weekend
Iran admitted it shot down a Ukrainian airliner… After initially denying responsibility, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard admitted it fired the missile that killed all 176 civilians aboard the plane. Protesters demanded Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s resignation, chanting “Death to liars!” and “Death to the dictator!”
…while US officials undermined Donald Trump’s justification for striking Iran. Defense secretary Mark Esper said he never saw specific evidence that Iran was plotting an attack on four US embassies, contradicting the president’s account of why he ordered the killing of Qassem Soleimani.
Taiwanese voters delivered a rebuke to China. Independence-minded incumbent Tsai Ing-wen, one of the most prominent voices backing the Hong Kong protesters, beat her pro-Beijing challenger by more than 2.6 million votes and cemented the biggest election victory in 25 years.
Eruptions and earthquakes rocked the globe. Ash from a volcano in the Philippines shut down the Manila airport and forced thousands to evacuate, while a dramatic but less disruptive explosion was caught on video in Mexico. Meanwhile, the latest in a string of earthquakes hit Puerto Rico Saturday, causing millions of dollars in damage.
Hong Kong refused to admit the head of Human Rights Watch. Kenneth Roth planned to release a report highlighting China’s crackdown on human rights watchdogs at a press conference in the city this week. He said authorities’ refusal to let him out of the airport proves his point.
Quartz membership
Accounting is at a crossroads. The Big Four accounting firms “are under more scrutiny than at any time since the Enron scandal,” writes Quartz contributor Michael Rapoport. This week’s state of play explains what’s wrong with how public companies are audited and how the industry is trying to course correct.
Quartz obsession
Clowns are people, too. Whether you love them, hate them, or love to hate them, clowns are sprinkled throughout culture like the confetti they love to fling. Are we scared of what’s behind the greasepaint, or are we really just afraid of what they say about what entertains us? Clown around with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
We shouldn’t curb travel to help the environment. Seeing places firsthand opens our eyes to the beauty of the world, what’s at risk, and why it’s worth saving.
Data visualizations should prioritize information, not “cuteness.” There’s no need to worry about entertaining people with design if you’re succeeding in making them smarter.
Some of the world’s rivers are just better than others. But only one can be the best, and the people have spoken.
Surprising discoveries
Polio is on the rise. Though the disease seemed on the verge of being eradicated over the past few years, 2019 saw a dramatic uptick in the number of cases worldwide, particularly in Pakistan.
Scientists pinpoint the source of global humming. First reported in the 1970s, these low-frequency sounds are apparently the result of magma rising to form an undersea volcano.
The world’s sexiest tortoise is going home. Diego, the 100-year-old tortoise whose virility helped save his species, will return to the Galápagos to live among his hundreds of progeny.
A high schooler discovered the first planet with two stars. Seventeen-year-old Wolf Cukier spotted the new planet on his third day interning at NASA.
US voting machines are still vulnerable to hacking. The company that sells popular voting machines continues to market them with an optional feature that connects them to the internet.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, river ratings, and suave tortoises to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Nicolás Rivero, Alex Ossola, and Holly Ojalvo.