Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The UK Parliament votes on the Brexit bill. The withdrawal legislation, which stipulates the terms of the country’s exit from the EU, is expected to easily pass in the House of Commons. MPs voted yesterday to drop child refugee protections from it.
The US House votes on curbing Donald Trump’s war powers. The measure would limit the US president’s ability to take military action against Iran, following the killing of a top Iranian general last week. While it’s almost certain to pass the House, approval in the Senate is less likely.
French unions call for another day of protests. Public transport networks across the country will likely face severe disruptions as workers step up their labor actions against the government’s proposed pension reforms.
The Consumer Electronics Show continues in Las Vegas. The penultimate day of the world’s biggest technology exposition will feature the Best of CES awards presentation. Stay on top of all the latest cool, useful, and bizarre gadgets with Quartz’s special edition CES Daily Brief.
While you were sleeping
A new coronavirus may have caused China’s mysterious pneumonia cases. The World Health Organization said that a new virus from the same family that produced SARS and MERS could be behind the pneumonia outbreak in the central city of Wuhan.
Prince Harry and Meghan are “stepping back” from the royal family. In a surprise move, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they will no longer be “senior” royals and will work to become financially independent. The couple reportedly made the decision without consulting any other royal.
The World Bank expects economic growth to remain modest in 2020. The lending institution projected that the world economy will grow 2.5% this year, 0.2% less than when it made the prediction last June. It flagged a number of risks, including the continuing US-China trade war.
Australia issued new fire evacuation alerts. Authorities in Victoria state extended a disaster notice and New South Wales told residents to leave ahead of worsening conditions tomorrow that could further fan bushfires.
Japan hit back at Carlos Ghosn’s remarks. After the former Nissan-Renault boss yesterday condemned the Japanese legal system as “brutal” in his first public remarks since his daring escape from Tokyo, Japan’s justice minister launched a counterattack and said Ghosn’s decision to flee was “unforgivable.”
Quartz membership
Senior living and millennial living are starting to look alike. From a “Zen-inspired” senior community in California to on-demand meals from Postmates, a new crop of assisted living facilities have more in common with the hospitality industry than with hospitals.
Quartz obsession
Google Translate brought once-futuristic instant language translation to the present. Decades of development in machine translation led to the introduction of Google Translate in 2001. Today, 500 million people use the tool to decipher 103 languages at least 143 billion times a day—but not without controversy, legal issues, and some problematic misuse. Break it down in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Fake news prevented a US-Iran war. Misleading statements from both countries’ leaders helped both sides claim partial victory.
Hollywood is rotting. The industry can’t seem to quit franchises that have run their course.
Awards are stupid. We’re happier and more productive when we give rankings less weight.
Surprising discoveries
Justin Bieber revealed that he has Lyme disease. He hit back at people who say he looks as if he’s on meth.
Air filters in classrooms helped raise test scores. An economist found that improving air quality in schools boosted student performance.
One of the world’s largest fish is extinct. The Chinese paddlefish were around for at least 200 million years.
Raising the US minimum wage would reduce suicide rates. A $1 increase could mean a 3.5% to 6% drop in suicides.
Astronomers discovered a “star nursery” in the Milky Way. They found the massive star-forming structure because they are building a new map of our galaxy.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Milky Way maps, and clean classroom air 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 written by Mary Hui and edited by Tripti Lahiri.