Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The US bill on Hong Kong lands on Trump’s desk. It has a veto-proof majority in Congress and supports pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. China has threatened to retaliate if the bill becomes law. China isn’t “stepping up” on trade talks, the president said on Wednesday.
Tens of thousands march in Colombia. Iván Duque’s government sealed the country’s borders and put the military on high alert ahead of a national strike. Colombians are protesting against economic policies, alleged corruption, and the fraying peace deal with rebel group FARC.
Tesla unveils its electric pickup truck. The automaker first teased the concept six years ago, but little is known about its “Cybertruck.” On Wednesday, US senator Ed Markey called on Tesla to disable the autopilot feature in its vehicles, after videos and news reports suggested drivers were asleep at the wheel.
While you were sleeping
Impeachment took center stage in the Democratic debate. In Atlanta, the 10 presidential candidates tore into Trump, just hours after Gordon Sondland, US envoy to the EU, said there was a quid pro quo with Ukraine at the president’s directive. Fiona Hill, former Russia expert at the White House, testifies at the impeachment hearings today.
Prince Andrew was urged to contact US investigators. “Without conditions and without delay,” said Gloria Allred, who represents some of the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender. Another lawyer said she would be prepared to serve legal papers on the prince.
The Trump administration confirmed it would participate in a vaping summit. The president is scheduled to meet (paywall) industry chiefs and medical officials on Friday, as he considers a ban on flavored e-cigarettes. Millions of schoolchildren across the US use e-cigarettes, a study found.
Scotland’s former leader faced sex charges in court. Alex Salmond is accused of sexual offences against 10 women, including an attempted rape, allegedly committed while he led the Scottish government. The 64-year-old has quit the Scottish National Party and works as a talk show host on Russian network RT.
Coldplay refused to go on tour because of the environmental impact. The British band won’t take its new album on the road until it develops a “carbon neutral” show, said frontman Chris Martin. The album, out tomorrow, has songs inspired by news reports about an Afghan gardener and a Nigerian hymn composer.
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The worst-case scenario for ETFs. One of the big questions about exchange-traded funds is the extent to which their rapid growth has led to an increasing number of flash crashes and a greater risk for the mother of all flash crashes. One bad trade can have disastrous consequences.
Quartz Obsession
Shipbreaking is the dirty underbelly of global trade. More than 90% of international trade moves by sea and ships can’t last forever, so where do they go? The majority of them head to South Asian shipbreaking yards, which are deadly for yard workers, toxic for the environment, and nearly impossible to regulate. Break it down in today’s Quartz Obsession.
Matters of Debate
What use are crypto collectibles? They strive to make money, art, and other digital goods individually controllable.
Companies should consult workers when automating. Rank-and-file employees deserve a say in how new technology impacts them.
Your “minimum viable product” isn’t going to cut it. Consumers expect something they actually want to use, not just a cobbled-together tool that barely functions.
Surprising discoveries
Doctors have put humans in suspended animation for the first time. Rapidly cooling the brains of shooting and stabbing victims buys the surgeons time to save them.
Safety deposit boxes are in demand again. The ultra-rich are looking for alternative places to stash their wealth.
Dog poo can be turned into bricks. Students in the Philippines air-dried the fecal waste picked up from the streets and added cement to make “bio bricks.”
The Seychelles has the world’s worst heroin problem. About 10% of the working population of the tropical archipelago are addicted to the drug.
The world’s donkey population is falling. Nearly 5 million hides a year are needed for a gelatin-based traditional Chinese medicine called ejiao.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, frozen humans, and safety deposit keys to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Rashmee Roshan Lall and Hasit Shah.