Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
Astronauts prepare for the first all-female spacewalk. After a controversial lack of spacesuits for women scuttled a planned outing in March, NASA scientists Christina Koch and Jessica Meir are set to step outside the International Space Station.
Boris Johnson goes on a charm offensive. The PM is trying to win support for his Brexit plan ahead of a historic UK parliament session tomorrow, the first Saturday session since 1982. Northern Ireland representatives and opposition parties have already promised to vote against the deal.
The earnings season continues with cans and cards. Coca-Cola is expected to report good third-quarter results. Shares are up 14% for the year, against 24% for rival Pepsi. American Express also reports third-quarter earnings.
The biggest soccer match in the world is on Sunday. Liverpool and Manchester United are historic rivals in England, two of the highest-earning teams, and are American-owned. However, their financial situations, reflecting their performances on the field, are very different.
While you were sleeping
Turkey agreed to pause its offensive against the Kurds, but fighting continued. There was shelling and smoke in the Syrian city of Ras al-Ayn. Meanwhile, The Times of London reported that Turkey could have used banned white phosphorus against Kurdish civilians.
China shared gloomy economic data. The Chinese economy, hit by the trade war with the US, grew only 6% in the third quarter. It’s the slowest growth rate since 1993, when China started reporting its GDP by quarters.
The White House chief of staff admitted there was a quid pro quo in the Ukraine case. Mick Mulvaney said the US withheld almost $400 million in aid to Ukraine in order to pressure it into investigating a conspiracy theory that claims Ukraine intervened in the 2016 election, not Russia.
Yet again, Aramco delayed its IPO. The state-owned Saudi oil firm postponed its long-planned listing to December or January, in part due to the drone and missile attacks against its oil plants in September. If it ends up happening, the listing will be the largest in history.
Cartel gunmen forced Mexico’s security forces to release El Chapo’s son. Police officers found Ovidio Guzmán, the son of the well-known drug lord, inside a house in the city of Culiacán. But they were forced to retreat without him, after they came under intense attack.
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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.” Watch the latest episode of Because China to see how China is reshaping our world.
Quartz Obsession
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, we turn to physical possessions for affirmation of our individual identities.
“Anger is the most under-utilized part of women’s power.” Ida Tin, CEO of menstrual cycle app Clue, believes the world should give more space to women’s anger.
Surprising discoveries
Sneakers are an extraordinarily hot commodity in China. One sneakerhead managed to get a 6,600% return on a black SoleFly x Air Jordan 1.
Arabic is the third-most-spoken language in Australia. Its popularity reflects the country’s history of immigration.
China asked the NBA boss to fire Daryl Morey. Adam Silver refused to punish the Houston Rockets manager for tweeting support for Hong Kong’s protests.
Indians are learning English with TikTok. New videos use local celebrities to teach 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, vegan treats, and expensive sneakers 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 Luiz Romero, Rashmee Roshan Lall, and Hasit Shah.