Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
A weekend showdown on Brexit. The British Parliament is gathering for a Saturday session, the first since 1982, to vote on a last-minute divorce deal with the EU. The Democratic Unionist Party is expected to oppose the deal, but prime minister Boris Johnson is confident the deal will be passed even without his Northern Irish allies’ support.
A march on Barcelona. Thousands on a cross-country march will arrive in the Catalan capital today for a general strike and mass rally amid ongoing protests against the Spanish Supreme Court’s decision to jail nine separatist leaders for their role in the 2017 independence referendum.
US tariffs hit European specialty foods. Some $7.5 billion worth of products like French wine and Italian Parmesan will face a 25% tariff increase today, and European aircraft will be taxed 10% more, after the WTO approved the countermeasures compensation for illegal EU subsidies to plane maker Airbus.
The first all-female spacewalk. After a controversial lack of spacesuits for women scuttled a planned outing in March, NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir are set to make a historic spacewalk outside the International Space Station today.
While you were sleeping
China’s economy grew at its slowest in almost 30 years. Third-quarter GDP grew by 6% compared to a year earlier, slower than expectations and marking a further loss in momentum as the trade war continues.
Protests erupted in Lebanon over austerity measures. Large crowds took to the streets in Beirut after the government proposed new taxes, including on tobacco, gasoline, and some social media platforms. The government backed down on its plans to tax WhatsApp calls in response.
Fierce gunfights broke out in the Mexican city of Culiacán. Heavily armed gunmen waged intense hours-long battles with security forces after authorities arrested the son of notorious jailed druglord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Mark Zuckerberg defended tech companies as the “fifth estate.” In a speech on free expression at Georgetown University, the Facebook CEO discussed his attempts to bring the social network to China, and criticized censorship of Hong Kong content on rival app TikTok.
Turkey agreed to a ceasefire in Syria. Following talks between US vice president Mike Pence and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ankara pledged to stop fighting for five days as Kurdish forces retreat from a “safe zone.”
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Why are Americans apologizing for supporting democracy in Hong Kong? A culture of hard-line nationalism has combined with growing social media and consumer activism to create a situation where even an off-hand mention of “freedom” can “hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.” The latest episode of Because China explains how China is reshaping the world.
Quartz Obsession
Vaping was on fire. Now it’s under fire. A rise in teen e-cigarette use and an outbreak of lung injuries and deaths has state and local governments cracking down on vaping. Could changing the pH of vape juice, or a newer technology called heated tobacco products, keep it from being blown away? Take a deep breath and head to the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Disruptive climate change protests make sense. Extinction Rebellion isn’t necessarily trying to win hearts and minds, they’re going for results.
We are what we own. When lives become increasingly digitized, people turn to physical possessions for affirmation of our individual identities.
Instagram funhouses are not museums. They’re great for selfies, but they’re not educational institutions driven by the public good.
Surprising discoveries
China asked the NBA boss to fire Daryl Morey. Adam Silver refused the request to punish the Houston Rockets manager after he tweeted in support of Hong Kong’s protests.
Australia wants to build a huge underground “battery.” Called Snowy 2.0, the ambitious hydro-electricity project could generate 10% of the nation’s energy.
An insect faster than Usain Bolt. The Saharan silver ant is the fastest ant in the world, with more than 10 times the Jamaican legend’s stride rate.
Indians are learning English through TikTok. New EduTok videos use small local celebrities to help teach users English phrases and vocabulary.
Dublin is heaven for vegans. The Irish capital is home to the world’s highest proportion of vegan-friendly restaurants.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, underground batteries, and speedy ants to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.