Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
The coronavirus crisis continues. At the center of the outbreak, China is struggling to maintain economic output as well as control of conspiracy theories. The virus keeps spreading, especially in South Korea, and according to a Chinese expert, patients who think they’ve fully recovered could still be infectious.
In Saudi Arabia, the outbreak is top of the agenda for G20 finance ministers. The representatives of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the world are working out ways to head off a coronavirus-triggered economic downturn. Here’s just one indicator: car sales in the first half of February fell 92% in China.
Luck be a lady (or a gentleman). A song about a gambler, made famous by a Vegas high roller from New Jersey, may well be on the minds of the remaining Democratic presidential candidates as voters in Nevada participate in the state’s caucuses on Saturday.
While you were sleeping
The US again told the UK not to work with a Chinese tech giant. “They [executives at Huawei] have engaged in a propaganda campaign to make people around the world think that they are the only alternative,” said Robert Strayer, America’s top cybersecurity official.
USWNT players filed new papers in a huge lawsuit against US Soccer. The World Cup-winning athletes are seeking $66 million in damages from the governing body for alleged gender discrimination. They say they’ve been paid less than the unsuccessful men’s team.
US travel restrictions on six new countries came into effect. The Trump administration’s latest list includes Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar. People from those countries can get tourist visas, in theory anyway, but can’t apply for work permits or student visas.
Iranians headed to the polls. It’s the first election since anti-government protests followed the assassination of general Qasem Soleimani and the subsequent downing of a Ukrainian plane by Iranian forces. Conservatives are likely to do well.
The US and the Taliban have agreed a partial truce. It’s only for seven days, but it’s an attempt to show that fighting in Afghanistan can stop if necessary.
Quartz membership
The third-largest sector in the B Corp community might surprise you. Financial services companies are increasingly seeking B Corp certification and taking on a purpose beyond the bottom line. Quartz’s Cassie Werber reports on a industry in flux and the next generation of financiers.
Quartz daily obsession
Pole dancing moves out of the strip club. The art of pole dancing can trace its roots to the Indian pastime of Mallakhamb; it’s only within the past 50 years or so that it became synonymous with stripping. More recently, it has become a fitness trend and competitive sport. Work it with the Quartz Daily Obsession.
Matters of debate
Building houses in California is way too expensive. Construction workers earn $90 an hour there, as one high cost among many.
Extraordinary athleticism could broaden soccer’s fanbase in the US. Liverpool players, for example, are physically imposing as well as highly skilled.
Machine learning can’t fix algorithmic bias. There comes a time when people problems need to be solved by people.
Surprising discoveries
Donald Trump’s approval rating is strong. In India anyway, where 56% of people think the US president will “do the right thing” in world affairs.
Ethical mining is not enough for some jewelry brands. They actually claim to care about things like carbon emissions and recycled minerals.
Investors like Liquid Death. A death metal-themed water-in-a-can concept just raised $9 million in funding.
Weed sales in Colorado hit a record high. Buds were the most popular product category, but concentrates doubled in market share last year.
A new study finds sleep apnea may also be caused by fatter tongues. Researchers recommend a tongue diet.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Virgil van Dijk, and Megan Rapinoe 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 Hasit Shah and Luiz Romero.