Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
The Senate votes on Donald Trump’s power to launch war on Iran. The Democrat-authored amendment would require the US president to seek congressional approval before ordering any military action against Iran. It would apply retroactively to the National Defense Authorization Act, a sweeping defense policy bill passed yesterday.
Trump meets with Xi Jinping. All eyes are on tomorrow’s meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan between the US and Chinese presidents over the ongoing trade war. Trump met with Russian president Vladimir Putin today—and joked about election meddling—and will meet with South Korea president Moon Jae-in in Seoul on Sunday.
A former Goldman Sachs partner faces a sentencing. Tim Leissner, who pled guilty in a multi-million dollar fraud scandal involving Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, is scheduled to be sentenced today. The global investment bank has been reportedly distancing itself from Leissner over the course of the trial.
Rainbow flags fly. Today marks 50 years since the LGBTQ community rioted over a New York City police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the West Village. To commemorate the anniversary, crowds are converging in the city—but challenges for acceptance remain. Pride events are also set to take place in Mexico City, Paris, Istanbul, Chennai, Manila, and more over the weekend.
While you were sleeping
Joe Biden came under attack in the Democratic debate. The 76-year-old former US vice president was put on the defensive as his rival candidates for the 2020 presidential nomination urged him to leave the fight against Trump to a younger generation, and California senator Kamala Harris confronted him over his record on race.
The US House passed a $4.6 billion border funding bill. Yielding to the Senate, the Democratic-controlled House approved emergency legislation to ease overcrowded conditions at holding facilities for asylum-seekers and to provide care for migrant children in federal custody. It will now go to the White House for Trump’s signature.
Apple’s design chief is leaving the company. Jony Ive, who led the crafting of almost all of the company’s iconic products over the last two decades, announced yesterday that he would launch his own design firm, LoveForm, in 2020, with Apple as his first client.
The EU tried to break an impasse over top jobs. European Council president Donald Tusk said the bloc was “closer” to a compromise, after European leaders failed to fill top jobs, including the head of its central bank. The impasse forced the EU to call a last-minute meeting for Sunday.
Lego built out its empire. The billionaire Danish family behind the toy company will pay £4.8 billion ($6.1 billion) for Merlin Entertainments, the company behind famed tourist attractions like Madame Tussauds, London Eye, and Legoland. News of the purchase caused Merlin’s stock to surge more than 10% today.
Quartz Membership
Interested in becoming a member? Find out more.
Our travel field guide this week gave members the low-down on everything from miles, points, and trusted-traveler programs, to the best way to pack, plan visits, and use money abroad. Next week we’ll be serving up a deep-dive on Huawei, a close look at Slack founder and CEO Stewart Butterfield; and a new episode of our members-only video series Because China.
Quartz Obsession
The Hayflick limit is life’s off-switch. Human cells can only replicate so many times before they stop and become senescent—unless they’re cancer cells. There are benefits to senescent cells, which boost immunity and fight cancer, but they’re also a problem of aging. As researchers look to extend lifespans, they’re trying to squeeze life out of our building blocks. Live it up at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Join the conversation with the new Quartz app!
Start working less, now. Caring less about our jobs will help us mentally prepare for automation.
For best results, pick your stocks randomly. Hedge fund elites can’t beat a portfolio made by throwing darts at a board.
The gig economy needs digital IDs. They would help workers do their taxes, and give clients a way to verify credentials.
Surprising discoveries
A Bosnian party is trying to tackle policy with computer science. Platforma za progres wants to use computer modeling and AI to fix Bosnian politics.
Crocodiles used to be vegetarians. Research suggests they actually went veg three times in the Mesozoic Era.
The US Secret Service has the world’s largest ink library. The 50-year-old forensics institution investigates phony documents and forged signatures.
Line launched an AI-driven social credit rating system. Japan’s dominant social media platform will surface better deals for users with higher scores.
Online postage purchases were the undoing of a $9 million drug ring. US agents traced the drug dealers to their Stamps.com account.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, stamps, and rare inks 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.