Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Brits cast their votes… The general election could determine what shape Brexit takes, or whether it happens at all. Prime minister Boris Johnson is looking to avoid a hung parliament so he can “get Brexit done.”
…As do Algerians. Five candidates are hoping to be elected to office after president Abdelaziz Bouteflika was deposed following demonstrations in April. Today’s vote comes amid protests that have called the vote a sham.
The EU talks climate change and monetary policy. Leaders of member states gather in Brussels to discuss European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s €100 billion ($130 billion) plan to make the bloc carbon neutral by 2050. Meanwhile, Christine Lagarde will chair her first meeting as president of the European Central Bank.
Donald Trump meets with top trade advisers to talk China tariffs. With a trade deal before Dec. 15 looking unlikely, the US president is expected to discuss whether to impose or delay the planned tariffs on some $160 billion in Chinese goods.
While you were sleeping
Harvey Weinstein and his accusers reached a tentative $25 million deal. The proposed settlement between the disgraced Hollywood producer and dozens of his alleged sexual misconduct victims would end nearly all of the civil lawsuits against him, according to the New York Times. He still faces criminal charges in New York, and a trial is scheduled for January.
The death toll from the New Zealand volcano eruption rose to eight. Another eight victims are thought to be on White Island and presumed dead, while 21 are in intensive care burn units. Authorities are considering a high-speed mission to retrieve the bodies.
Chile’s air force found debris believed to be from the missing plane. Wreckage was found 30 km (19 miles) from where a cargo plane with 38 people on board last made contact on Monday as it neared Antarctica.
Israel’s parliament approved an unprecedented third election within a year. The motion passed unanimously after politicians missed a final deadline to form a government, extending the political paralysis to at least next March, when the fresh national ballot will be held.
The Fed kept rates steady. The US central bank met for the last time this year and planned no further interest rate cuts. Chairman Jerome Powell said previous cuts had successfully offset the effects of the US-China trade war, though manufacturing and exports have yet to rally.
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Brazil has a gold rush of fintech investment. Nubank, a digital bank in São Paulo, is one of the fastest growing financial institutions in the world. Venture capital investors have taken note of the fintech unicorn’s soaring valuation and are pouring money into the region’s startups. Quartz’s John Detrixhe spoke exclusively with Nubank’s CEO for our field guide, Beyond the fintech hype.
Quartz obsession
The story of the light bulb truly exemplifies innovation. The intensely competitive and highly experimental race between Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan resulted in a creation that spans the world—an average American home has 40 light bulbs, and 15% of the globe’s energy consumption is taken up by lighting. Become illuminated by the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
We shouldn’t call car crashes “accidents.” That kind of framing favors drivers and blames pedestrians and cyclists.
Ghosting is occasionally necessary. It’s not cowardly, because we all reach our breaking point eventually.
Don’t stress about gifting your kids tech. Phones and tablets can actually strengthen family relationships.
Surprising discoveries
Donald Trump Jr. killed rare endangered sheep in Mongolia. The US president’s son secured a special permit after meeting with the country’s leader.
New York will soon require bird-friendly glass on all new buildings. It’s a bid to reduce the almost 1 billion annual avian deaths from glass collisions in the US.
An iOS error let anyone temporarily lock up nearby iPhones. The now-fixed AirDrop bug allows users to send unlimited files to devices within range, freezing them in an inescapable loop.
Colombia is suing Walmart over a holiday sweater. The ill-conceived pullover references Colombian “snow” (aka cocaine).
A fruit fly landed in a pail of milk 5,500 years ago.
And it
the first cheese and yogurts.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, special hunting permits, and family-friendly holiday sweaters 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 written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.