Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Tense G20 talks in Argentina… The future of global trade will hinge on a high-stakes dinner between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with US national security adviser John Bolton as a third wheel. Trump, under renewed pressure from special counsel Robert Mueller (see below), announced mid-flight that he won’t meet with Vladimir Putin, while Japanese prime minister Shinzō Abe is expected to meet separately with all three fellow world leaders.
…Including India’s busy weekend. Prime minister Narendra Modi will attend the first meeting ever between the US, Japan, and India in Buenos Aires, with Russia, China, and India conducting a second trilateral forum. Back home, the Indian economy is expected to post slower-than-expected GDP growth on Friday—a bad sign for Modi’s re-election campaign.
SpaceX launches 64 satellites at once. A Falcon 9 rocket will carry cargo for 35 customers from 17 countries on Sunday—the most ever carried by a US launch vehicle. The payload includes five satellites from Planet, an experimental spacecraft from Swarm, and an art project by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Robert Mueller shows at least a few of his cards. The special counsel will detail how former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort—who won’t be in court—violated his plea deal by lying to investigators. Mueller could use the court filing to lay out his case against the president, unfettered by acting US attorney general and Trump loyalist Matt Whitaker.
While you were sleeping
Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen pled guilty to lying to Congress about Russia. As part of a plea agreement, Cohen admitted to making false statements about the Trump Organization’s attempts to develop real estate in Moscow. Cohen also told Robert Mueller’s investigators about contacts with Russian officials close to Vladimir Putin, obstruction of justice, and talk of possible presidential pardons.
China halted He Jiankui’s CRISPR research. The nation’s science ministry confirmed the professor broke the law with his testing, which resulted in the birth of two supposedly healthy twin girls. The first recorded instance of births altered by gene-editing technology—illegal on human subjects in much of the world—has now prompted an investigation amid mass outcry.
The Filipino government sued Rappler. The Philippine department of justice has accused the news site of various tax charges, in an apparent effort to stifle criticism. Rappler founder and editor Maria Ressa could be arrested in the fallout.
The Charlottesville murder trial began. Neo-Nazi and white supremacist James Fields is facing prison for life, if not a possible death sentence, for murdering Heather Heyer with a car during last year’s “Unite the Right” rally. Even if Fields sticks with claims of mental illness and self defense (paywall), he’ll face a second trial and will likely be the seventh person convicted for crimes connected to the rally.
Obsession interlude
Loneliness is spreading like a virus. Social isolation is bad for our physical health, so much so that governments around the world have launched initiatives to combat it. But how we truly treat this modern plague is a matter of debate. Read all about it in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Conversation starter
“In a way, it makes sense that spider’s milk would have 4x the protein of cow’s milk. Spiders eat other insects, which are almost all protein.”
—Katherine Ellen Foley, health/science reporter at Quartz, on Some spiders produce milk – and it’s more nutritious than cow’s milk
Quartz Membership
Get a front-row seat to the fashion industry. Two almost-simultaneous trends, the rise of millennials and the rise of Asia, have given new direction to the fashion world. We’ve distilled that world down to this master list of experts you can consult when wanting to stay on top of the latest developments. From Instagram influencers to Wall Street analysts, our tool kit will make sure you remain current on what’s au courant. Read the list here.
Surprising discoveries
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” is creeping into the season. Mariah Carey’s smash hit re-appeared on the 2018 charts earlier than ever before.
Amazon is hijacking baby registries. It sold sponsored slots on the gift-buying lists, tricking family and friends into buying stuff expectant parents didn’t want.
Chinese traffic cameras caught bogus marathoners. Nearly 250 runners opted to take a shortcut at the Shenzhen Half Marathon.
Google’s AI appreciates good manners. The Assistant won’t scold you for not saying “please” and “thank you,” but it will be nicer if you do.
Fashion logos are lining up. Brands are adopting straightforward, generic designs because they’re more compatible with smartphone screens.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, chart-toppers, and extra bibs to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson, Adam Pasick, and McKinley Noble.