YOUR
PRESIDENTIAL
DAILY BRIEF

UK Voters Give Johnson Landslide Win

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a resounding victory in yesterday’s elections, ushering in a Brexit-keen Conservative majority of 364 seats, a gain of 47. Voters also rebuked the Labour Party, which lost 59 seats — its worst defeat since 1935 — for a total of 203, compelling its socialist leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to promise to step down before the next election. The Scottish National Party also gained 13 seats, potentially setting up a new vote on Scotland’s independence.

What happens now? Johnson called it a “new dawn” for the nation, which he vowed will leave the European Union next month, “no ifs, no buts, not maybe.”

OZY’s Special Briefing breaks it down.

House Judiciary Committee Delays Impeachment Votes

Shortly before midnight Thursday, Committee Chairman and New York Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler abruptly called off votes on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, saying he wanted time for members to “search their consciences.” He rescheduled the votes — on whether the president abused his power by pressuring Ukraine for political favors or obstructed Congress’ probe into that accusation — until Friday morning.

What’s expected? Party-line votes: Republicans, who were angered by the delay, will defend Trump, though the articles will likely be approved by the committee’s Democratic majority and proceed to the full House of Representatives.

Troops Recover Bodies From Stirring NZ Volcano

The death toll from Monday’s volcanic eruption in New Zealand is officially 15 after military specialists, braving warnings of new activity, recovered six more bodies from Whakaari/White Island. Wearing protective gear and breathing equipment, the troops helicoptered in for the retrieval from the moonscape-like terrain. Scientists have warned that the air on the island is so toxic that just one breath could be fatal.

Is anyone still missing? Yes. Authorities are attempting to find the bodies of the last two of 47 people who were on the island when it unexpectedly erupted, including one that was spotted in the water.

OZY reconsiders disaster recovery efforts.

Markets Cheer China Trade Deal, Brexit News

Markets surged over the last 24 hours, with investors cheering a potential U.S.-China trade agreement and British election results that seemed to erase Brexit uncertainty. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 stock index closed at a record high yesterday, while the U.K.’s FTSE 100 climbed nearly 2 percent Friday morning as the pound surged against the dollar. The main Tokyo and Hong Kong indexes both soared 2.6 percent today.

What does the trade deal do? According to U.S. media reports, the deal, which has been agreed “in principle,” would alleviate some tariffs set to begin Sunday — though Beijing has yet to comment.

Also Important...

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has put off a trip to India after two people were killed in clashes over the country’s new citizenship law, which critics say discriminates against Muslim migrants. Over President Trump’s objections, the U.S. Senate has passed a resolution recognizing as genocide the 1915 deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in Turkey. And thousands of protesters in Algeria are calling yesterday’s elections there a “sham.”

Try This: Feeling presidential after a week of briefings? Prove it with the PDB Quiz.

OZY is hiring! We’re looking for an analytical and globally minded tech reporter to sniff out today’s most important stories in science, technology and health. Check out our jobs page and read the description here.

Greta Thunberg, 'Chilling,' Heeds Trump's Advice

“Greta must work on her Anger Management problem,” tweeted President Trump Thursday, suggesting the Swedish climate activist see “a good old fashioned movie with a friend” and “Chill, Greta, Chill!” After being named Time’s Person of the Year in 2016, Trump has heckled subsequent winners. The magazine named Thunberg, 16, as its youngest honoree Wednesday, after she derided world leaders’ current climate efforts as “clever accounting and creative PR.”

How did she respond? She trolled Trump right back with her new Twitter bio: “A teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend.”

OZY looks for the next Thunberg in Uganda.

US House Passes Bill to Rein In Prescription Prices

Thursday’s Lower Drug Costs Now Act would allow the government to negotiate the price of 250 prescription drugs — including insulin — that are covered by Medicare. Democrats say it would reduce consumer costs by 55 percent and save the country nearly $400 billion, though Republicans argue it would discourage innovation. Analysts say it has no chance of clearing the GOP-controlled Senate and would be vetoed by President Trump if it did.

Will Congress do anything to address drug costs? A bipartisan bill in the Senate would stop price hikes from outpacing inflation and could incorporate some of the House bill’s provisions.

OZY spotlights a native American healer.

Poland Is Out to Win the Great Gaming Game

They’re leveling up. In 2012, Poland was the 13th largest exporter of video games in Europe; today it’s sixth in the entire world. A 750 percent growth in exports comes thanks to the 800 game developers now registered with the government. For many of those young creatives, OZY reports, their country’s history is key. Under communism, Poland already had big technological aspirations and educational opportunities, so when the country opened up to Western capitalism and entrepreneurship, its developers were ready.

Is everyone playing? Poland’s government has embraced the industry, saying gaming and esports could boost its future economy.

Deepest Point of Earth's Continents Found in Antarctica

There are still terrestrial places left to discover. Glaciologists have found the deepest point — under ice two miles below sea level — on any continent while creating a detailed new topographical map of Antarctica. Researchers used satellite images and radar soundings from 19 research institutions dating back to 1967 to create BedMachine Antarctica, the most accurate map yet of the land beneath the continent’s ice sheet.

What else did they find? Good news, in ridges that restrain ice movement through the Transantarctic Mountains, but bad signs elsewhere that could speed melting from global warming.

OZY reports on the clash over governing Antarctica.

Retired NFL Players Charged With Scamming Health Benefits

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday announced charges against 10 retired football players, including Pro Bowler Clinton Portis, for defrauding the league’s health care program. The players allegedly filed false claims worth nearly $4 million for medical equipment they never bought. Among the items claimed were ultrasound machines designed for pregnant women and electromagnetic devices made for horses.

Have the accused responded? Portis’ lawyer said his client didn’t know his “participation” in the program was illegal, and plans to “clear his good name and those of his fellow NFL alumni.”

OZY examines sports betting.