Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Scientists decide whether the “Doomsday clock” needs adjusting. Donald Trump’s stance on nuclear arms, a refusal to address climate change, and a disregard for science in general may be inching the world toward disaster. At 10 am ET, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists will announce whether the minute hand will move closer to midnight.
Britain kickstarts Brexit maneuvers. Theresa May’s government will publish legislation seeking parliamentary approval to begin divorce proceedings from the EU. One think tank predicts that Article 50 could pass as soon as February, but March is more likely.
The Gambia’s new president comes home. Adama Barrow is returning from Senegal, where he took refuge in a standoff with ex-leader Yahyah Jammeh. Barrow may need to revamp his cabinet since vice president Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang is past the constitutional age limit.
While you were sleeping
The Dow broke 20,000 for the first time ever. Goldman Sachs’ soaring shares helped push the grandaddy of stock market benchmarks to an all-time high. Despite widespread cheering on Wall Street, the index is largely meaningless.
Usain Bolt lost one of his nine Olympic golds. The International Olympic Committee revoked the Jamaican relay team’s winning medal from the 2008 Beijing games, after Bolt’s teammate Nesta Carter was busted for using an illegal stimulant. That ruins Bolt’s historic “triple-triple” of three gold medals in three successive Olympic games.
Donald Trump ordered the construction of his long-promised wall. The US president’s executive order calls for an “impassable physical barrier” along the nearly 2,000 mile-long US-Mexico border, though Congress has yet to approve funding. Trump also signed an order threatening to withhold federal funding to US “sanctuary cities” that shelter illegal immigrants.
“Alternative facts” boosted demand for George Orwell’s “1984.” The dystopian novel, whose protagonist replaces historical truths with state-approved “facts,” moved into the top spot on Amazon’s best-seller list, amid rising concerns about the Trump administration’s easily disprovable claims.
The world’s richest university is outsourcing its $35 billion endowment. Harvard University is reportedly laying off half of its 230 staffers and shutting its internal hedge funds. The real-estate division will be spun off into a new entity that will continue to invest some of Harvard’s billions.
Quartz obsession interlude
Eshe Nelson on the downgrade of the United States to a “flawed democracy.” “The US has been ‘teetering on the brink of becoming a flawed democracy’ for years, a new report says … Trust has been declining in the US for decades, leaving the country’s institutions battling a ‘legitimacy crisis’ and struggling to sustain representative democracy in its current form.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
China should reduce its trade surplus with the US. Beijing has a clear path to undisputed superpower status, but it needs to prevent a trade war.
Angela Merkel’s re-election is far from assured. Her coalition partner has chosen Martin Schulz, the popular former president of the European Parliament, as her opponent in this year’s election.
The stock market doesn’t really care who’s president. The US commander-in-chief has very little to do with the economy’s performance.
Surprising discoveries
The US constitution is stored in an atomic bomb-proof vault. A special elevator carries the country’s foundational documents underground every night.
Elon Musk is building a tunnel under SpaceX. It’s not exactly clear why, but the billionaire has tweeted that traffic is “driving him nuts.”
After a 19-year wait, Japan has a sumo grand champion. The 30-year-old, 175 kg Kisenosato ended decades of dominance by Mongolian wrestlers.
Chasing sheep is illegal in New Zealand. So a famed rodeo is employing men dressed like sheep as a substitute.
British health officials launched a crusade against burnt toast. It contains a chemical compound that is a probable carcinogen.
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