Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Sports fans are looking forward to some major events. The Kansas City Chiefs play the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LIV; American Sofia Kenin could win her first Grand Slam at the Australian Open; and Liverpool FC asserts its dominance in the English Premier League.
Donald Trump’s impeachment trial could draw to an end. Senate Republicans are likely to acquit the president, after Tennessee senator Lamar Alexander voted against calling witnesses.
World Athletics rules on Nike’s Vaporfly. The hi-tech shoes, which are helping elite runners break marathon records, are reportedly set to escape a ban, but regulations around athletes’ footwear are likely to tighten.
Brexit is finally happening. The UK officially leaves the EU at 6pm ET today, after years of uncertainty, but it’s just the start of an 11-month transition period. Quartz talked to six Londoners about the big day: some are Brex-cited, others are Brex-hausted.
While you were sleeping
The US issued a red alert to anyone still wanting to go to China. The Level 4 bulletin is its highest warning so far, as infections continue to spread. The virus has hit seniors hardest, while the UK confirmed its first two cases.
Amazon joined the four-comma club. After its fourth-quarter earnings statement shattered expectations, shares of the company spiked by over 10% in after-hours trading—pushing Amazon’s market value beyond the $1 trillion mark.
A Canadian billionaire bought up Aston Martin shares. Amid falling sales, the struggling British luxury carmaker is offloading up to 20% of its stock for £200 million ($263 million) to Lawrence Stroll, who becomes executive chairman of the board.
France’s economy unexpectedly contracted. GDP shrank slightly in the fourth quarter, amid a manufacturing slowdown and ongoing protests over president Emmanuel Macron’s proposed pension reforms.
Australia’s capital region declared a fire emergency. Bushfires raged south of Canberra, the worst in two decades there. Officials warned that strong winds and high temperatures could make the fires uncontrollable.
Quartz Membership
Accounting is at a crossroads. Why are auditors switching over to the consulting business? Should the “Big Four” be broken up? How can technology improve the auditing process? Quartz’s Walter Frick and author Michael Rapoport discuss the future of the industry in a member exclusive conference call.
Quartz Daily Obsession
Why do we scare ourselves for fun on roller coasters? The intense drops and loops disorient our senses in ways that alter brain chemistry, yet many seek this type of thrill because their lives are just too comfortable. Strap yourself in with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matters of debate
It’s easy to hire diverse staff. Etsy doubled its number of black and Latin employees in just a year.
The US is unprepared against coronavirus. It might fail, once again, to learn from past epidemics.
You should care about these European elections. Ireland, Switzerland, and Slovakia go to the polls soon, and they all matter.
Surprising discoveries
You’ve never seen a photo like this. A solar telescope in Hawai’i has captured an extraordinarily detailed image of the sun’s surface.
Two distant stars have a strange wobble. Their unusual orbit is stretching space and time in their vicinity.
Google searches for “corona beer virus” have spiked. A lot of people seem to think the global health emergency has something to do with the Mexican beer brand.
A YouTube prankster gave a fake award to a British far-right troll. Josh Pieters filmed Katie Hopkins’ racism and expletive-laden acceptance speech, and Twitter suspended her account.
The wreck of the Titanic got wrecked some more. A US research submarine crashed into the infamous sunken ship over the summer.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, regular Coronas, and an Aston Martin Vantage in British racing green 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 Adam Rasmi and Hasit Shah.