Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Qassem Soleimani is interred in Kerman. After Monday’s funeral saw throngs of mourners fill the streets of Tehran, the assassinated Iranian general’s body will be buried in his hometown. Meanwhile, the US House of Representatives will reconvene and are expected to vote this week to limit president Donald Trump’s war powers in Iran.
CES 2020 kicks off. The exposition formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show showcases the most cutting edge new technology from sex tech products to the long-awaited 5G. Stay in the loop all week by signing up for our CES Daily Brief, brought to you by Quartz reporters on the ground in Las Vegas.
Made-in-China Teslas reach consumers. The automaker will roll out the first batch of locally made cars to the Chinese public at a special event at its Shanghai factory. The launch is uncharacteristically ahead of schedule for Tesla, which had said it would begin delivering within the world’s largest auto market before the Chinese New Year on Jan. 25.
While you were sleeping
The Pentagon lost its chief of staff. The US Defense Department announced that Eric Chewning will leave his position at the end of the month, following a series of senior resignations. The department is currently beefing up US military presence in the Middle East in the wake of Soleimani’s assassination, but has said that Chewning’s departure is not related.
Harvey Weinstein got hit with new charges. The Hollywood mogul went to court in Manhattan on Monday on two charges of sexual assault, just as Los Angeles prosecutors filed a separate criminal complaint that charges Weinstein with raping one woman and assaulting another, both occurring in 2013.
The Libyan National Army seized Sirte. Troops loyal to general Khalifa Haftar announced possession of a strategic city on the coast after airstrikes paved the way for a rapid advance. Haftar’s LNA counts it as a major victory in its conflict with the ruling Government of National Accord in Tripoli.
Lenovo leaned into foldable tech. The ThinkPad X1 Fold, an attempt to bridge the gap between laptops and tablets, will cost $2,499 and will be available mid-year. Lenovo isn’t known for releasing the flashiest products, but tends to be willing to experiment—often admirably so—in between its more staid offerings.
Quartz membership
The world is getting older. In the US alone, 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every day. Over the next 30 years, many of them will move into nursing homes and assisted living. This group will redefine what senior living looks like, writes Quartz’s Lila MacLellan in this week’s field guide, giving birth to an era of “geriatric cool” and a new luxury industry that caters to it.
Quartz obsession
Formula One is racing into the future. The world’s classiest racing event is dominated by elite automakers, picturesque locations, and cars that burn as much as 110 kg (243 lb) of fuel before they cross the finish line. But bowing to changing times and a warming earth, F1 has vowed to become carbon neutral by 2030—and may even merge with a rival league, Formula E, that features exclusively electric vehicles. Take a lap with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Is a four-day work week viable? Finland’s new prime minister is betting on it.
Tech companies can’t make us put our phones down. New features designed to help us limit our screen time are just window-dressing.
Photoshoots are bad for the environment. Fashion magazines should do without them.
Surprising discoveries
Chinese movers confiscated a kid’s world map. They told a reporter that her son’s globe made Taiwan look like an independent country.
There’s a Gaelic boom in Scotland, thanks to Duolingo. More than 127,000 people have signed up to learn the language on the app.
Someone planted bedbugs in a Walmart fitting room. Police are taking fingerprints off pill bottles containing live bugs.
CEOs behave better when the government is irresponsible. US business leaders push harder for diversity, consumer safety, and environmental protection when a president doesn’t.
A walrus shortage may have done in Greenland’s medieval Norsemen. Without tusks to trade, Norse communities vanished in the 15th century.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, contraband globes, and bedbug horror stories to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Susan Howson and Nicolás Rivero.