Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Germany’s GDP report. Eurozone eyes will turn towards Germany, as a rise or fall in gross domestic product could indicate the health of the regional economy at large (paywall)—as could any effects of the US-China trade spat on the nation’s business confidence.
South Koreans reunite with North Korean family members. Reunions earlier this week were reported by North Korean state media as bringing families together who “exchanged their inmost thoughts in a happy homely atmosphere.” The second wave will see more than 300 South Koreans traveling to the eastern mountain resort of Kumgang to meet with 85 kinfolk living in North Korea.
Irish protesters say “Nope to the Pope.” Pope Francis will deliver a mass in Dublin, but opposers of the Catholic Church have snapped up thousands of the free tickets without planning to use them. The organized movement is calling the action a “silent and peaceful protest” against the Church’s secrecy on issues like sexual abuse and its past treatment of unwed mothers.
While you were sleeping
Tabloid mogul David Pecker flipped on the US president. The longtime Trump crony and chief executive of the National Enquirer’s parent company agreed to provide information (paywall) in exchange for immunity from federal prosecutors. Pecker played a role in hush payments to adult-film star Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal, who both claimed to be Trump paramours.
Brits were warned what a “no deal” Brexit could look like. The UK government attempted to inform, but not alarm, the public with practical facts about the near future (paywall) if a deal cannot be reached with the EU. On the list: More bureaucracy, costlier credit card payments to EU companies, and fewer banking options for British citizens living in the bloc.
Trump talked impeachment to stir up support. The US president discussed an impeachment scenario for the first time in a televised interview, painting visions of a crashing market and widespread poverty. As midterm elections loom, the GOP is mobilizing Republican voters by bemoaning the dangers of a Democrat-led Congress.
Mike Pompeo returns to North Korea. A special envoy—including Ford Motor executive Stephen Biegun—will accompany the US secretary of state as he tries to hold the hermit kingdom to an increasingly tenuous denuclearization deal. Next week’s visit will be the fourth for Pompeo this year, but it remains to be seen whether Kim Jong Un turns up.
Alleged spy Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was temporarily freed from an Iranian prison. The British-Iranian woman, who has been imprisoned for more than two years, received a three-day furlough that will allow her to visit her daughter. Iran’s move comes ahead of an EU decision on how much it will push back against US sanctions.
Quartz Obsession interlude
Aisha Hassan on the dawning of the golden age of Asian American rom-coms: “The themes around teenage romance are universal, and in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, there is no reference to how the protagonist’s love life is affected by her ethnicity… The movie normalizes and translates into film what we’ve always known: All races fall in love, and it’s about time Hollywood shows it.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
No need for degrees. Major companies like Apple, IBM, Google, Hilton, Bank of America, and even Costco are putting more emphasis on job skills.
Survival of the laziest. Researchers at University of Kansas say that “sluggish” creatures with low metabolic rates are prime candidates for surviving extinction.
Australia’s leadership drought. As the continent dries up, politicians and lobbyists deserve much of the blame (paywall) for stonewalling climate change awareness and green energy policies.
Surprising discoveries
Ancient hybrid humans. A 90,000-year-old bone fragment (paywall) revealed that some prehistoric peoples were half Neanderthal and half Denisovan—a mysterious group little-known to scientists.
WTF, Procter & Gamble. The consumer goods corporation is trying to trademark internet slang acronyms LOL, WTF, NBD, and FML for nebulous “household and personal-care” use.
A UK university tortoise heist. Four Sulcata tortoises—three of them named after Pokémon—were stolen from Dorset’s Kingston Maurward College in the dead of night.
The Everglades could birth super snakes. Accelerated python evolution in Florida (plus rampant crossbreeding) could lead to invasive, environmentally resistant monstrosities.
General Motors says texting can wait. The automaker doesn’t let employees walk around with their eyes glued to a mobile screen—it can be a major safety hazard.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Denisovan interns, and docile snakes to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter for updates throughout the day or download our apps for iPhone and Android. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by McKinley Noble and Susan Howson.