Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
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, after 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.
Meanwhile, the UK Parliament votes on the Brexit bill. The withdrawal legislation, which sets the terms of the country’s exit from the EU, is expected to pass, as the government has a large majority in the House of Commons.
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 our special CES newsletter.
While you were sleeping
Tesla’s market value became greater than GM and Ford’s combined. A jump in Tesla’s stock on Wednesday took its valuation to $89 billion, above GM’s $50 billion and Ford’s $37 billion, even if Tesla ships a fraction of the millions of cars sold by the auto giants. Tesla is buoyed by a surprisingly good third-quarter and rapid progress on its new Shanghai plant.
Iranian investigators said the Ukrainian airplane was on fire before crashing in Tehran. An initial report maintained that the aircraft had a technical problem after takeoff, and that it was heading to a nearby airport when it crashed on Wednesday, killing 176 passengers. The accident happened as US-Iran tensions peaked, fueling speculation that a missile had brought it down.
Protests against pension reforms continued in France. Teachers, nurses, and lawyers joined public transport workers in strike action and mass protests across the country on Thursday, as the government negotiated with unions. The national strike in France has lasted more than a month, but the government has not given signs of backing down from its pension overhaul.
China said it will send a representative to sign an initial trade deal with the US. China’s vice premier and chief negotiator Liu He travels to Washington next week for a signing ceremony with US president Donald Trump. The first phase of the trade deal involves the reduction of tariffs and an increase of Chinese purchases of US products, but it avoids key issues of the trade spat.
Japan hit back at Carlos Ghosn’s remarks. After the former Nissan-Renault chief 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
Arun Paul used to work in resorts. But when he realized his Indian American parents wouldn’t enjoy most senior communities, he founded Priya Living, offering senior housing for immigrant populations. It’s a new model for senior living that’s likely to become more common. Read more about it in our latest field guide.
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. Break it down in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
The UK’s first black royal has walked away from it all. Meghan Markle struggled with the media scrutiny for years.
Hollywood is rotting. The industry can’t seem to quit franchises that have run their course.
Awards are meaningless. We’re happier and more productive when we give rankings less weight.
Surprising discoveries
Athletes’ bed during the Tokyo Olympics will be made of cardboard. Sturdy athletes should not fear: the beds can take up to 200 kgs (440 lbs).
Justin Bieber revealed that he has Lyme disease. He hit back at people who said 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 became extinct. The Chinese paddlefish were around for at least 200 million years.
Donald Trump and Michael Bloomberg will run ads during the Super Bowl. Trump’s will be shown in every state, a first for a presidential campaign.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, cardboard beds, and meaningless awards 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 Luiz Romero and Hasit Shah.