Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The EU considers softened anti-dumping duties on Chinese solar panels. The duties were implemented in 2013, when they nearly caused a trade war between the bloc and China. The European Commission had planned on extending the duties another two years—an idea opposed by a majority of EU countries—but now appears set to reduce that to a final 18 months.
Somalia holds elections at last. After postponing the vote four times due to corruption allegations, parliament is expected to elect the country’s next leader from a secure area in Mogadishu’s airport. Sixteen of the 24 candidates are holders of foreign passports.
GlaxoSmithKline reports earnings. The UK drugmaker is expected to post a quarterly profit of £1.1 billion ($1.36 billion), from a net loss of £354 million a year earlier. Glaxo benefited from promising sales of its new HIV products and a falling pound.
While you were sleeping
Netflix is getting into the toys business. A job posting shows it’s looking for someone to oversee the licensing of its shows for toys and books and to establish partnerships with retailers. The company created the sci-fi smash Stranger Things using its own in-house studio.
Donald Trump’s travel ban was debated in court. Three appeals court judges heard arguments about the executive order that blocked travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, as well as all refugees. The judges questioned whether the ban, which is currently suspended, unfairly targeted people over their religion. Their ruling is expected this week, but either way the case is likely headed to the Supreme Court.
The new US education secretary was confirmed by the narrowest of margins. Betsy DeVos, the most controversial Trump cabinet nominee, was approved by the Senate after vice president Mike Pence cast an unprecedented tie-breaking vote. DeVos is a wealthy Republican donor who champions charter schools, but has limited education expertise.
Australia questioned the pay of its postal chief. After a Senate committee made public the executive salaries of the government-owned Australia Post, it came to light that managing director Ahmed Fahour makes 10 times more than prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. The latter joined lawmakers in calling for a reduction in Fahour’s pay, which amounted last year to A$5.6 million (US$4.3 million).
The controversial Dakota Pipeline got the go-ahead. A court filing revealed that the US Army Corps of Engineers will grant the final easement for the $3.8 billion project. Last December the Obama administration blocked the project, while Native Americans and climate change activists have fiercely protested against it.
Quartz obsession interlude
Max de Haldevang on what it would actually take to impeach Trump: “Democrats know two big things need to happen… Someone in the House of Representatives needs to actually charge him with something, and they need to convince a load of Republicans to vote to take him down.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
Europe must defend itself from an extreme threat. Germany and the EU should prepare their defenses against the Trump presidency, writes Der Spiegel.
Non-Americans should avoid Google and Facebook if they care about privacy. The US government considers itself to have jurisdiction anywhere US companies operate.
Incompetent AIs are more dangerous than evil ones. Humans are liable to put too much trust in machines that do one thing well.
Surprising discoveries
A lettuce crisis is making Brits rethink Brexit. A run on green vegetables can really make you appreciate free trade.
China’s top businesswoman hasn’t taken a day off in 26 years. Dong Mingzhu says she has sacrificed her personal and family life “to make the world a better place.”
A crack in an Antarctic ice shelf has grown 17 miles (27 km) in two months. It’s expanding at a pace of five US football fields a day (paywall).
Barack Obama went kitesurfing with Richard Branson. America’s 44th president is taking a break from politics in the British Virgin Islands.
Engineers at MIT have invented a robot that can catch fish. The transparent gel bots can also kick a ball underwater.
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