Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
It’s election day in the US. Not that one, but still key. Voters in Mississippi and Kentucky choose governors, Virginia its state legislators, NYC votes on how it votes in 2021, and Washington state on affirmative action. Any Democratic upsets could be read as a sign of president Trump’s shrinking support.
The US House releases more Ukraine inquiry docs. Transcripts from two witnesses—former special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker, and US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland—are expected to reveal key details. In yesterday’s released testimony, the former Ukraine ambassador said she felt threatened by Trump’s reference to her as “bad news.”
A big day in UK politics. Parliament is dissolved as an election scheduled for Dec. 12 gears up, after electing a new speaker yesterday. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn campaignsin Essex to “get Brexit sorted,” and the Liberal Democrats launch a £50 billion “Remain bonus” pledge.
While you were sleeping
Bolivia’s opposition leader called for a march… At a gathering of tens of thousands of people, civic leader Luis Fernando Camacho called on protesters to “radicalize” the unrest that has gripped the country since the October 20 election. He plans to head to the capital today with a resignation letter for president Evo Morales.
… and Chileans took to the streets. Thousands gathered in Santiago to voice anger over economic inequality, after a brief lull in the weeks-long demonstrations that were triggered by a subway fare hike. President Sebastián Piñera told the BBC he wouldn’t resign.
Iran backed away still further from the nuclear deal. Tehran said it will start injecting uranium gas into its centrifuges, but did not say whether enriched uranium would be produced. European leaders are now under greater pressure to ease the effect of US sanctions and salvage what remains of the 2015 accord.
Turkey captured the sister of the slain leader of ISIS. A senior Turkish official said the little-known sibling of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed in a US raid last month, was apprehended in a trailer in northwestern Syria, along with her family.
Uber’s stock tumbled. The ridesharing giant’s stock dropped more than 5% in after-hours trading. Earlier, it had posted a $5.2 billion third quarter loss. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the company expects to be profitable by 2021.
Quartz Membership
More than half of all plastic ever created was produced in the last 15 years. By 2050, the rate of plastic production will have tripled. This week’s field guide looks at how plastic came to be so ubiquitous, how it’s infiltrating our food, water, and the air we breathe, and why recycling doesn’t work. Quartz’s Zoë Schlanger breaks down what can’t be broken down—decades of new plastic on a global scale.
Quartz Obsession
Swiss Army knives are made in Switzerland and yes, they’re standard issue for the Swiss military. They were first made in Germany though, and they didn’t always come with a corkscrew. The Quartz Obsession cuts to the chase.
Matters of Debate
Office romances are a bad idea. Just ask McDonald’s ousted CEO, who was fired for dating another employee.
Uber’s new safety features aren’t enough. The company’s toxic bro culture still permeates the gig economy it helped create.
Working less is good for productivity. Sales per employee jumped after Microsoft Japan tried out a four-day work week.
Surprising discoveries
UK drone operators now need a license. A compulsory registration scheme for all but the smallest toys includes an online test.
English isn’t really the lingua franca. Among Europe’s leading economies, a new report found that only Germans “speak English well.”
Berlin banned fake US soldiers from Checkpoint Charlie. Actors were reportedly bilking tourists for money at the historic border crossing.
The Italian town of Cammarata is giving away free houses. The mayor is trying to boost the dwindling population.
The periodic table owes a debt to Sanskrit. The 19th century Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev used the ancient Indian language to name new elements.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, drone driving tips, and translation dictionaries to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Adam Rasmi and Rashmee Roshan Lall.