Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The US hits Iran with new sanctions. President Donald Trump announced the move on Saturday amid increased tensions after Iran shot down an American military drone. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo, en route to discuss trade in India, makes a detour in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates today in an attempt to shore up support.
The Council of Europe votes on Russia. Delegates from Ukraine and several other countries are urging the body not to reinstate Russia’s voting rights, stripped after it annexed Crimea in 2014. Critics say bringing Russia back from the cold would undermine European ideals.
SpaceX attempts a complicated launch. The private aerospace company sends its Falcon Heavy rocket into orbit for the third time. Its payload of 24 satellites and the ashes of 152 people will be deployed in several different orbits, making for the company’s “most difficult launch ever,” CEO Elon Musk says.
The IOC elects a host of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Either Stockholm or Milan will win the job, after other cities, spooked by the project’s expense and scale, opted out of the contest. Should Sweden prevail, sliding sports will be held in nearby Latvia.
Over the weekend
The Trump administration considered deportations and 5G. Trump on Saturday decided to delay mass raids on undocumented immigrants by two weeks in order to try hammer out a deal on the issue with Democrats. The White House also reportedly considered a ban on any Chinese designs and hardware in the roll-out of 5G cellular equipment.
Jared Kushner unveiled a Middle East peace plan. The long-awaited document from Trump’s son-in-law, titled “Peace to Prosperity,” drew quick criticism for not addressing the issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including Palestinian statehood.
Carrefour scaled back its China business. Europe’s largest retailer will sell an 80% stake in its China business to Chinese retailer Suning.com. Though Carrefour was once the largest foreign supermarket there, its sales have slumped due to e-commerce competition.
Jeremy Hunt pressed Boris Johnson to explain a domestic row. The UK foreign secretary joined a growing chorus demanding that the Tory frontrunner—Hunt’s rival to become prime minister—explain a police visit to his home, after a neighbor reported hearing a heated exchange between Johnson and his girlfriend.
Turkey’s opposition won the Istanbul mayoral re-run. In a serious blow to president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, opposition candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu clinched a landslide victory in the country’s largest city. İmamoğlu’s first win, in March, was annulled after the ruling party complained of irregularities.
Quartz Obsession
Meet the hard side of soft serve. Ice cream trucks have been a magnet for mayhem since the Chicago mob destroyed a bunch of Good Humor vehicles. The decades that followed saw arson, bombs, and plenty of illicit goods—plus a scam that brought in millions from bootlegging the trucks themselves. Here’s a taste at the Quartz Obsession.
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Matters of debate
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Food poisoning is the worst excuse for missing work. It’s the “dog ate my homework” of office absenteeism.
The value of expertise is in decline. The world of work increasingly favors the “jack of all trades.”
Libra is a centralized wolf in decentralized sheep’s clothing. Facebook’s cryptocurrency has a long way to go to earn our trust.
Surprising discoveries
A slug was blamed for chaos on Japanese railways. The slimy mollusc may have short-circuited electrical equipment.
Mexico held a unique property auction. A sale of luxury homes seized from drug traffickers included amenities like escape tunnels.
Scientists discovered a sea of fresh water under the ocean. It rivals the size of even the largest terrestrial aquifers.
Sidewalk chalk drawing goes back 500 years. Beggars in 16th-century Italy drew pictures of the Madonna outside cathedrals, earning coins from pilgrims.
Scientists want to make biodegradable fuel and plastics out of bacteria. Cyanobacteria naturally releases hundreds of millions of tons of diesel-like hydrocarbons.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, chalk sets, and unique property listings 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.