Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Catalonia declares independence from Spain. Following the region’s banned referendum, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said he prefers mediation out of the current crisis, but Spain’s central government has rejected this avenue and is demanding a “return to the path of law” before any talks. The likely outcome is that Catalonia will declare independence after a parliamentary session today.
HSBC confirms a new chief executive. The London-based bank is expected to name John Flint, currently head of retail banking and wealth management, as its new chief executive. HSBC has asked the Bank of England for permission to make the appointment, according to a Sunday Times report (paywall).
Foreign ministers of the “Bucharest Nine” meet in Warsaw. Ministers from nine central and eastern European countries will meet in the Polish capital to discuss ”current security challenges and expectations for next year’s NATO summit.”
The Nobel Prize for Economics is announced. The winner will be revealed at 11:45am CEST (5:45am EDT). You can watch the announcement live.
The US marks Columbus Day. Stock markets will be open, but bond markets will be closed. Trade is expected to be slow as most federal institutions will be shut.
Over the weekend
Kim Jong-un promoted his younger sister. The North Korean leader made sibling Kim Yo-jong an alternate member of the politburo, the nation’s top decision-making body. Recently she also took charge of developing the cult of personality surrounding her brother.
OPEC said it may take “extraordinary measures” to rebalance the oil market. Secretary-general Mohammad Barkindo didn’t specify what those steps might be, but said on Sunday they may need to be taken next year in order to restore stability “on a sustainable basis going forward.” The current pact to cut oil output expires in March 2018.
A weakened Hurricane Nate hit the US states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Though not as destructive as feared, it caused widespread flooding, left more than 100,000 customers without electricity, and is expected to cause up to $4 billion in economic damage.
Harvey Weinstein was fired by the Weinstein Company. The move follows a New York Times expose (paywall) revealing the powerful film producer has faced many accusations of sexual harassment spanning decades. Days earlier Weinstein said he would take a leave of absence and seek therapy.
Donald Trump traded Twitter insults with a major Republican critic. The US president attacked Tennessee senator Bob Corker on Twitter on Sunday, claiming the lawmaker was retiring because Trump had refused to endorse him. Corker, who is chair of the foreign relations committee, retorted that the White House had become an “adult day care center.”
Quartz obsession interlude
Thu-Huong Ha on the linguistic legacy of Christopher Columbus. “About 54 million people run into a reminder of his legacy every day: the very name of their countries. In spite of the local names of the places where Columbus landed—and even though he thought he had gotten to the Indies—he coined new names. Today there are eight independent states whose names came from Columbus.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
College football is why American universities dominate the globe. It promotes loyalty that lasts a lifetime, which translates into a steady flow of private donations and a broad political base for gaining state funding.
Blade Runner 2049 is the rare sequel that justifies its right to exist. Like the original, it’s an ambitious but vulnerable and introspective film—and the least cynical major Hollywood sequel in a long time.
Humans had to evolve to acknowledge octopus consciousness. The strangeness that once repulsed us is now a source of fascination, seen as a sign that the cephalopods have much to reveal.
Surprising discoveries
Uber secretly lobbied for women to drive in Saudi Arabia. It’s planning a specialized training center for Saudi women who want to drive on its ride-hailing platform.
Mondays really are the worst, says data. Analysis of millions of Twitter messages for the happiness sentiment shows it’s the worst day of the week for millions.
A 60-year-old satellite is still orbiting Earth. Launched by the US in response to the Sputnik, the Vanguard 1 could remain in orbit for 1,000 years.
Police had to restore order at some McDonald’s branches over a sauce fiasco. Customers were outraged that they couldn’t get the limited-edition Szechuan sauce featured on the cartoon show Rick and Morty.
An obscure Dr. Seuss book offers a playful rebuke to gender stereotypes. Its illustrations are a joyful portrait of body positivity.
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