Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
More than 100 female politicians from around the world gather in London. They’re participating in the Women MPs of the World Conference, and will sit in the UK parliament. The event marks the centenary of women winning the right to vote in the UK.
The US Fed releases its latest policy statement. The central bank is not expected to raise rates, but it could cite a dip in business investment and a possible slowdown in the housing market as reasons to believe growth is ebbing.
An update from the world’s happiest place. After Disney missed expectations last quarter, analysts believe it will post a rise in revenue and profit, driven in part by its theme parks. Investors also want to learn more about its upcoming streaming service and plans for the entertainment assets it’s acquiring from 21st Century Fox.
While you were sleeping
US midterms buoyed US and Asian markets. A rally on Wall Street—driven by investors’ relief there weren’t major political surprises—pushed Asian stocks to a one-month high. The S&P 500 had risen more than 2%, while some Asian indices edged up 1% to 2% in early trading.
The Pakistani woman acquitted of blasphemy was freed from prison. Reports say Asia Bibi, a Christian who spent eight years on death row, boarded a plane, but the destination was unknown. Responding to protests, the government had barred her from leaving Pakistan. Italy has offered to help secure her asylum.
Google’s expansion in New York City could accommodate 20,000 staff. The search giant is nearing an agreement to buy or lease 1.3 million square feet and planning to expand an existing property by about 300,000 square feet, reports the Wall Street Journal (paywall). The deals are in addition to its previously announced plan to enlarge another location in the city by 250,000 square feet.
Jeff Sessions is out as US attorney general. The head of the Justice Department resigned effective immediately at the request of Donald Trump, who tweeted that Matthew Whitaker will serve as acting attorney general. Trump had seethed about Sessions not ending the Russia probe, which Whitaker has criticized.
The US issued an emergency order on the Boeing 737 Max. The directive from the Federal Aviation Administration comes after a safety bulletin from Boeing on how to handle erroneous data from the aircraft sensor. Investigators are examining the role of inaccurate data in a Lion Air flight that crashed last week. FAA directives are usually followed by other airline regulators internationally.
Obsession interlude
Lavender is a cornerstone of the self-care industry. And it’s been one for millennia; the ancient Egyptians used it for embalming, and medieval doctors for aching joints. Modern science too is uncovering practical uses for the pretty purple flower that lend credence to its calming rep—for mice, it’s like “popping a Valium.” Why? Relax and check out the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
The cult of creativity is making us less creative. Allowing ideas to form by slow thinking is the best way to foster the inventiveness that helps make art so impactful.
Racism is the biggest problem plaguing US politics. The GOP relies on bigotry to drive voters while Democrats tout diversity in the interest of survival.
You’re probably choosing the slowest line at the grocery store. Queuing systems that allow people to approach the next available cashier tend to be faster than individual lanes.
Surprising discoveries
Canada is running low on weed… Three weeks after marijuana’s legalization, the shortage is sending some customers back to the black market (paywall).
…While the US National Institutes of Health seeks a professional joint roller. Ideal candidates should be able to acquire “hard-to-find controlled and uncontrolled” drug compounds.
Companies are hiring freelancers to make the office look busy. Eliminating empty desks makes for better optics when investors come by for visits.
Nevada voters chose a dead brothel owner over a living candidate. Dennis Hof, who died last month, was elected to the state assembly by more than 7,000 votes.
A vaccine could let people with celiac disease eat gluten. Nexvax2, which is in clinical trials, targets genes present in 90% of celiac patients.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, expertly crafted joints, and baskets of muffins to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Alice Truong and edited by Tripti Lahiri.