Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Singapore’s fake news law goes to court. The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act has been criticized for being the government’s thinly veiled censorship tool. Since taking effect last October, the law has been used four times—all against opposition or dissident figures.
Jeff Bezos schmoozes with the Bollywood elite. After pledging $1 billion to digitize Indian small businesses, the Amazon CEO continues his charm offensive by clinking glasses with Bollywood A-listers at a swanky Mumbai hotel. It won’t stop the investigation into Amazon India’s alleged competition law violations, but it could help stoke public support.
Pakistan’s foreign minister meets US government officials. Fresh from a meeting with the United Nations secretary general in New York, Shah Mahmood Qureshi will talk to US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in an attempt to continue to gain diplomatic ground as Pakistan’s relationship with India remains fraught.
While you were sleeping
Russia’s government resigned. The unexpected move from prime minister Dmitry Medvedev and his cabinet came just after president Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping changes to the constitution that could extend his control over the country beyond the end of his term in 2024.
China and the US signed a “phase one” trade deal. The agreement rolls back some tariffs and increases China’s purchases of US goods and services. In a letter to US president Donald Trump, Chinese president Xi Jinping praised the deal and said he hopes the two stay in touch. Meanwhile, US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin is already talking up additional tariff rollbacks in a yet-to-be-negotiated “phase two” agreement.
The US House picked its impeachment “managers.” House speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the seven congresspeople who will prosecute the case against president Donald Trump before the US government. Meanwhile, the Senate plans to vote on whether to subpoena witnesses, and Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts—who will preside over the trial—has left clues about his views on impeachment.
Toyota invested in “urban air mobility.” The automaker gave $394 million to Joby, which researches light aircraft with vertical take-off abilities, with an eye to future short-distance air commutes. The deal will have Toyota sharing technology and production expertise as well as its cash.
The US finally ratified the Equal Rights Amendment (sort of). Virginia became the 38th state to approve the ERA, an amendment to the US constitution passed by Congress in 1972 that guarantees protections against gender discrimination. However, the lengthy delay means confirmation of the ERA is far from certain.
Quartz membership
After several high-profile accounting failures, British regulators are debating how to best rein in the industry’s major firms. And they’re considering a drastic step: breaking them up by separating their consulting businesses from their auditing.
Quartz daily obsession
Let it snow… and marvel at the shape of snowflakes. The snow crystals are one of our early introductions to the complex patterns of the world that continue to puzzle and dazzle scientists, mathematicians, and creatives—from the CGI snow in Disney’s Frozen to artificial flakes at the Olympics to predicting deadly avalanches. The Quartz Daily Obsession hopes you catch its drift.
Matters of debate
Forget celebrity chefs, we need celebrity waiters. Front of house staff is just as important to a restaurant’s success as who cooks the food.
Airlines must bear the costs of becoming carbon neutral. More efficient planes and better routes can only do so much.
Layoffs can be handled tactfully. They’re stressful, sure, but organizations should provide more support.
Surprising discoveries
Navy SEALs bought 450 counterfeit radio antennas. The “US-made” equipment actually came from China.
Scientists found ancient viruses in a glacier. The never-before-seen viral groups date back 15,000 years.
Spotify introduced a playlist for dogs left home alone. There’s also a pup-friendly podcast to help ease Fido’s separation anxiety.
Turkey’s greatest soccer player is now a US cabbie. Hakan Sukur, now 48, says political problems at home have forced him into exile.
Livers can now last a week outside the body. A new robot can keep the organ alive for far longer than the 24 hours it can survive on ice.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, celebrity waiter stories, and independent livers 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 Liz Webber and Susan Howson.