Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The former US special envoy to Ukraine testifies. Kurt Volker resigned last Friday after being named in the whistleblower complaint about a phone call between presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky. Volker could now be candid in his closed-door testimony as part of the impeachment inquiry.
Boris Johnson tests his new Brexit plan. The UK prime minister will take his proposal, unveiled yesterday, to parliament even as his Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay set a two-day deadline for the EU to begin intensive talks. The reaction from Brussels has been mixed.
Israel gets a new parliament. But the 22nd Knesset, which will be sworn in today, looks very like the old one. It may not last long and a third election in less than a year may be in prospect, with no breakthrough in prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s talks on Thursday to form a national unity government.
PepsiCo gets a boost. The food and beverage giant is expected to post another rise in quarterly earnings, helped by strong demand for its line of wholesome snacks and carbonated water. The company’s stock is up about 25% this year. Meanwhile, beer and liquor giant Constellation Brands also reports.
While you were sleeping
Mike Pence got caught up in the impeachment inquiry. The US vice president has rarely been drawn directly into any controversy involving Trump, but US officials revealed that the president had asked Pence to skip the inauguration of Ukraine’s president in May.
Justin Trudeau went on the offensive. Mired in an ethics scandal, Canada’s leader took aim at opponents in the first French-language face-off of the Oct. 21 election. He tried to corner Conservative rival Andrew Scheer on the abortion issue. Scheer later quipped that Trudeau had two planes to campaign—one for himself, the other for his costumes.
H&M sashayed. The Swedish retail giant posted third quarter profits—up 25% on last year. It’s a sign its new strategy—fewer discounts and stores—is paying off. Despite challenges facing the fast fashion sector, demand remains robust.
North Korea entered a new phase in missile tests. Pyongyang confirmed it launched a submarine-capable missile, ahead of renewed nuclear negotiations with the US. The new weapon could allow its arsenal to be deployed well beyond its territory.
Tesla’s stock tumbled in after-hours trading. The decline follows news that the electric car maker delivered some 97,000 vehicles in the third quarter. Though a record number, it’s still below CEO Elon Musk’s goal of 100,000.
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As past-their-prime airports are abandoned, what should—or can—be done with the unique spaces and the buildings left behind? From Berlin to Hong Kong, it’s a question on many more lips than you might imagine. Quartz’s Natasha Frost takes a look at the new adventures of old airports as part of this week’s airline industry field guide.
Quartz Obsession
The census is more than a count: it’s civilization. It’s one of the first steps for a new country. It taught us how to quantify society. It reflects how economies and people change. And, crucially, it tells us just how big Burning Man is. But in the future, will we really need them? See what the survey says at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Being on trend matters less than being on time. Even in the fashion business, logistics trump stunning design.
Fanfiction is the best writing education. Young authors grow within an energetic and enthusiastic community of readers.
Flight shame will stall airlines’ growth. Guilt-ridden passengers are increasingly taking the Swedish concept of flygskam to heart.
Surprising discoveries
Bitcoin is not the world’s most used cryptocurrency. That title goes to Tether, even though its market capitalization is at least 30 times smaller.
Chicago public libraries ditched overdue fines. The largest public library system in the US wants to improve access for low-income families.
Humans type fast on phones.
Those who used both thumbs
banged out 38 words per minute
, which is nearly as fast as on a keyboard.
Horrible bosses follow the saboteur’s approved playbook. A declassified spy manual shows that the US planned to use uncooperative workers to take down the Nazis.
Scientists solved the mystery of a “ghost particle” from space. The neutrino traveled 3.8 billion light years from a galaxy with two supermassive black holes before zapping Antarctica.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, educative fanfiction, and typing tips to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Adam Rasmi, Max Lockie, and Rashmee Roshan Lall.