Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Japan and South Korea try to work it out. Diplomats from the two countries will hold working-level talks to try to get closer to an agreement on recent trade issues and lingering disputes over wartime actions. Meanwhile, a South Korean trade delegation will try to make deeper connections in Azerbaijan.
Dominic Raab starts his own trade tour. Now a free entity, the UK will send its foreign minister on a trip to Australia, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia in an effort to hammer out new trade agreements.
Earnings time for Twitter, Uber, and more. L’Oreal posts annual results, while Twitter, Uber, and T-Mobile deliver quarterly figures. Uber is expected to continue to disappoint, while Twitter may have gotten its feet under it in the fourth quarter.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump was acquitted. US senators cast their votes after a Wednesday spent delivering their final thoughts on the matter. Republican senator Mitt Romney voted to convict the president on the charge of abuse of power, making him the first senator in history to go against their party in this particular scenario. The result, which didn’t approach the two-thirds majority needed, was widely expected.
Coronavirus restrictions continued to disrupt Chinese life. Travelers attempting to return home from Lunar New Year visits have found they are not welcome anywhere, while mandatory face masks are foiling facial recognition, making some routine tasks impossible. Meanwhile, Asian telecoms LG and ZTE have pulled back from participation in this month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation upped its donation to $100 million to combat the outbreak. A more optimistic view of the virus’s toll on business led US markets to close at record highs.
Vodafone said it will remove Huawei’s technology from its core network. The move, which will cost $220 million, comes after the UK and the EU issued new rules regarding the Chinese company, in part over fears of Chinese spying fueled by the US.
LinkedIn announced a new CEO. After 11 years and an acquisition by Microsoft, Jeff Weiner is handing over control to Ryan Roslansky, his first hire at the professional networking company. Weiner will stick around as executive chairman.
A study found cancer is detectable years before symptoms appear. The genetic mutations that cause the disease can occur decades earlier than today’s diagnoses. The findings open the door for more timely testing in the future.
Quartz membership
Venture capital has a gender problem. In 2019, just 2.9% of invested dollars went to startups founded by all-women teams. But the industry is starting to change. Quartz contributor Dave Edwards reports on the strategies VCs are using to diversify their offices and portfolios.
Quartz daily obsession
Kali is the feminist icon the modern world needs. She is the Hindu goddess of death and destruction—but also a mother-figure and a representation of love. Her multiplicity isn’t a contradiction: Like a force of nature, she simply is. The goddess introduced a style of art, inspired the Rolling Stones logo, and launched a feminist magazine; and her ambivalent nature has been interpretted by competing factions for their own political purposes. Look in awe upon the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matters of debate
Making white characters black is not the way to promote diversity in literature. At best, it’s shallow window dressing. At worst, it’s retroactive blackface.
A crackdown on Indians living overseas could hurt investment in India. But too many of them use their non-resident status to avoid taxes.
New York should cancel its fashion week. It’s no longer the US fashion capital.
Surprising discoveries
Archaeologists discovered the oldest wooden structure in the world. It’s a 7,000-year-old well in the Czech Republic.
A student loan company sent a US man 55,000 identical letters by mistake. The company blamed a glitch in its mail system.
Indian millennials value good sex more than political views. If a potential partner has a different opinion on the citizenship law, it’s not a dealbreaker.
Everyone wants one of Anguilla’s .ai domains. The small island raked in $2.9 million in 2018 for vanity URL registrations.
Singing in a choir is good for your health. A study also found it helps social skills and increases civic engagement.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, 55,000 identical letters, and singing lessons 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 Liz Webber and Susan Howson.