Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Members of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance meet in Amsterdam. Leaders from the three carmakers will gather for the first time (paywall) since the arrest of chief Carlos Ghosn. Hints of the alliance’s future could emerge, with Nissan aiming for a more equitable relationship.
NASA announces partnerships with US companies for returning to the moon. The space agency’s administrator, Jim Bridenstine, tweeted this week that the US is returning to the surface of the moon “sooner than you think.” Teaming up with private companies is seen as key to that effort.
Malaysia’s High Court opens sealed bids for a 1MDB-linked superyacht. Bidding for the $250 million Equanimity—once owned by fugitive financier Jho Low—ended yesterday. The vessel is among the myriad assets allegedly purchased with funds siphoned off from the state development fund.
While you were sleeping
The UK government and BOE each warned of Brexit risks. Prime minister Theresa May hopes the analyses will persuade lawmakers to support her withdrawal plan. The Bank of England said the economic hit from an extreme Brexit could be worse than during the financial crisis.
The US Senate advanced a Yemen resolution in a rebuke to Trump. The measure calls for ending US support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Lawmakers, outraged over the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, moved it forward despite being urged not to by secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defense chief Jim Mattis.
US stocks rallied on comments by Jerome Powell. The Federal Reserve chairman said the policy rate was “just below” neutral, a change of language from earlier comments. Investors took it to mean there’d be fewer rate hikes than anticipated. US stock indexes jumped more than 1.5%.
Democrats nominated Nancy Pelosi to be the next speaker of the House. The 78-year-old lawmaker held the position from 2007 to 2011, and looks likely to take it again, thanks to Democrats gaining a House majority in the midterms. A small group of Democrats still hopes to deny her a victory in a vote by the entire House.
Obsession interlude
The world has a new kilogram. For almost 130 years, it was defined by an actual physical cylinder made of platinum and iridium, stored in Paris. But then its weight started to fluctuate. A shifting standard is no good for precision tech, so scientists have spent years trying to tie the kilogram to a universal constant. Finally they’re done, with the help of an elaborate scale and the world’s roundest object. Today’s Quartz Obsession weighs in.
Conversation starter
“GM is already close to the 200,000 car production cap that is covered by current subsidies but has been lobbying for extension. The steel tariff cost GM $7 billion and thus the decision to close plants that were older to reduce costs. GM had already made decisions to eliminate the models produced at those plants.”
—Michael Andrews, founder and CEO at MPA Global, on “Trump Threatens to End GM Electric-Car Subsidies, Without Saying How”
Quartz Membership
Sports sneakers have evolved into the luxury fashion object that defines our time. Remake Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars in suede with slight tweaks to the silhouette and you get Ann Demeulemeester’s scamosciato sneakers. Do it in roughed-up leather and you have Yves Saint Laurent’s version. Or exaggerate the proportions, particularly on the toe cap, and the result is a pair of Rick Owens Ramones. Read more here.
Surprising discoveries
Corporations are sourcing futures from sci-fi writers. Nike and Boeing pay for scenarios that show how their brands could stay relevant in an imagined future.
A riddle-writing extortionist is terrorizing an animal sanctuary. The New Hampshire ranch receives rhyming letters (paywall) demanding cash to stop the attacks.
A smart dress shows just how often women get groped. Sensors tracked how often and with what degree of intensity the wearer was touched at a club—and it was a lot.
An Australian steer was too giant for slaughter. Knickers instead works as a six-foot-four, 3,000-pound “coach” who leads smaller cows around the pasture.
Mysterious seismic waves went around the world. Geologists are debating whether it’s a sign of a new volcanic zone or a shift in an unknown magma chamber.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, future visions, and new volcanos to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written and edited by Susan Howson and Steve Mollman.