Trump’s State of the Union, spotlight on Disney, arty superyachts

Say goodbye to the five different news apps clogging up your phone, and say hello to the new Quartz app—it’s like Netflix for news! [Quartz Daily Brief]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! Say goodbye to the five different news apps clogging up your phone, and [say hello to the new Quartz app]( like Netflix for news! What to watch for today Trump addresses the nation. The US president’s State of the Union speech comes [a week later]( than originally scheduled because of the partial government shutdown. Trump is likely to focus on immigration and his border wall, as well as infrastructure and health care. Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate [Stacey Abrams]( will deliver the Democratic response. Theresa May delivers a Brexit speech in Northern Ireland. The UK prime minister [visits Belfast]( as she seeks new negotiations with Brussels over the Irish border, after parliament rejected the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Asia celebrates the Lunar New Year. Schools, businesses, and government offices [will close]( in countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In China, the holiday week will yield a boom in [tourism]( (paywall) and [shopping](. French workers protest. A subdued yellow vest movement will attempt to capitalize on a [union-led general strike]( (paywall) against president Emmanuel Macron’s policies today, with air and train travel disruptions expected. French media [reported today]( that Amazon fired three employees for encouraging yellow vest protesters to block the e-commerce giant’s warehouses. A potentially unhappy day for Disney. The entertainment company is expected to post a drop in first-quarter revenue; investors will [look for details]( on its upcoming Disney+ [streaming service](. In other earnings today, embattled tech company Snap is expected to [post losses]( with good-looking results forecast for Estée Lauder and Ralph Lauren. Sponsor content by First Republic Bank The renter generation won't be renting much longer. In our post-crisis era, many millennials remain wary of our home lending processes and doubtful of home buying affordability. This is understandable, but an overcorrection. [It's time to dispel some common myths about home buying](. While you were sleeping Trump’s inaugural committee was subpoenaed. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are [seeking documents]( (paywall) as part of an investigation into illegal foreign donations to the organizing committee, as well as whether committee staff members knew that such donations were illegal. The UN said North Korea is trying to protect its nuclear capabilities. The country is not only maintaining its [nuclear and ballistic missile programs]( but also making sure military strikes cannot destroy those capabilities, according to a confidential report. The report comes ahead of a visit by US envoy [Stephen Biegun to Pyongyang]( Wednesday for preparatory talks for a second summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un. Pope Francis delivered a historic sermon. The Catholic leader wrapped up his visit to the Arabian Peninsula, the first time a pontiff has visited the Gulf region, [with a mass]( attended by members of the UAE’s foreign Catholic community as well as thousands of Muslims. Emirati leaders [billed the event]( as showcasing the country’s diversity and religious tolerance. SoftBank celebrated a good fourth quarter. The Japanese multinational [posted a 24% quarterly profit increase]( driven by mobile phone users opting for more plans with higher data limits. It’s the first quarterly result since SoftBank went public under a blockbuster IPO, which saw the company promise to pay 85% of profits back to shareholders as dividends. BP’s annual profit more than doubled. The British oil and gas multinational [earned nearly $13 billion]( in profit last year, driven by strong earnings from US shale. The company’s debt level also rose, reflecting BP’s decision—along with that of other major oil firms—to invest billions in shale in recent years. Quartz obsession interlude A tribute to scissors. The simple-but-critical cutting tool has snipped its way through history, creating several lasting business empires. Some manufacturers have lasted for centuries, while small groups of artisan scissor makers—called “putters”—continue to ply their handcrafting trade. Cut into the matter in today’s [Quartz Obsession](. Membership Esports: If you think “watching other people play video games” is a flash in the pan, you haven’t been paying attention. Last year, an estimated 200 million people watched the League of Legends World Championship Series—about twice as many as the Super Bowl. We’re kicking off esports week with a [state of play]( memo explaining its origins and projecting its future. We also have a [timeline]( of key dates in the industry’s short but fast-moving history. Matters of debate [Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!]( Facebook connections are designed to live forever. The site’s “vestigial friendships” are [unprecedented in human history](. Americans are ready to soak the rich. Formerly extreme proposals to sharply raise taxes are [receiving mainstream support](. The world is in danger of running out of people. Population increase projections may not account for [the disruptive effect of cheap technology](. Surprising discoveries A crypto-exchange founder left behind $200 million in assets and payments. No one knows [the passwords]( (paywall) to accounts held by Quadriga CX’s CEO, who died last month in India. Japan is moving toward one-handed junk food. Manufacturers are experimenting with [“snack tongs” and “drinkable” potato chips]( (paywall) to allow smartphone-obsessed customers to scroll and snack. Trump invited an unrelated Trump to the State of the Union. 11-year-old Joshua Trump, one of [13 Americans]( invited to hear the speech in person, says he has been bullied for sharing the president’s last name. Art restorers are finding new clients on superyachts. Champagne corks and breakfast cereal [are among the threats]( to priceless artworks. Hawaii is mulling a near-total ban on cigarettes. If passed, the law [would only allow centenarians]( to light up post-2024. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, artisan scissors, and smartphone-compatible snacks to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by [downloading our app]( and [becoming a member](. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Adam Rasmi and edited by Jackie Bischof. Enjoying the Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here to sign up.]( If you click a link to an e-commerce site and make a purchase, we may receive a small cut of the revenue, which helps support our ambitious journalism. See [here]( for more information. To unsubscribe from the Quartz Daily Brief, [click here](.