Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
India’s top court listens and speaks. The Supreme Court will hear accounts of police brutality against students currently protesting treatment of Muslims under the new Citizenship Act. Judges will also sentence lawmaker and convicted rapist Kuldeep Sengar, whose case has bred its own protests and violence.
The UK’s new parliament gets to work. MPs from all parties will be sworn in today, with prime minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative party taking 365 seats in last week’s election—an even bigger victory than was expected. Johnson is likely to immediately get down to the business of pushing Brexit through.
The force is back. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres globally, and the nine-episode Skywalker saga will need no Jedi mind tricks to compete for box office records as theaters prepare for an onslaught of viewers.
While you were sleeping
Apple and Google got hit with a disturbing lawsuit. Human rights organization International Rights Advocates says the two big tech companies, as well as Dell, Microsoft, and Tesla, are responsible for the deaths of Congolese children mining for cobalt, which is used in many tech products. It’s the first legal challenge the companies have faced regarding mining deaths.
Netflix carved out its Asia-Pacific niche. The streaming giant’s Asia-Pacific arm has experienced the most membership and revenue growth of any region over the past three years, more than doubling its size. As the streaming field gets more competitive, the platform has shown investors that international audiences are key.
Pro-Indian websites were found targeting EU leaders. A Brussels-based NGO reported that a coordinated, global network of more than 250 websites is spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda. The English-language sites support India’s lobbying efforts, but have not been linked to Delhi.
Tyson foods got permission to sell chicken to China. The US food giant was banned from exporting to China after an American avian flu outbreak in 2015, but Beijing lifted restrictions last month to give consumers an alternative to Chinese pork, which has been devastated by its own disease outbreak. Final approval came days after the US and China reached a preliminary trade deal.
Central European cities vowed to fight right-wing populism. The mayors of Budapest, Warsaw, Prague, and Bratislava—cosmopolitan capitals within countries that have elected nationalist governments—signed a pact to uphold “democracy, equality, rule of law, social justice, tolerance, and cultural diversity.”
Quartz membership
The world is running out of freshwater. Just 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh, and almost nowhere is its value truly reflected in its price. Now, investors are paying more attention to corporate water issues, and businesses are beginning to respond. In this week’s field guide, John Engen explores the world’s water woes.
Quartz obsession
Cyborgs already walk among us. Humans whose bodies have been implanted with cutting-edge tech have long lived in the realm of sci-fi movies—but many of us already use devices that augment our hearing, vision, and memory. You could even argue that the ubiquity of smartphones turns most of us, at least functionally, into cyborgs. Upgrade your knowledge with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Your career is a biopic and your resumé is the trailer. Keep it loosely based on your actual life, but don’t let reality interfere too much (and other totally serious resumé advice).
“Ethical” companies should be held accountable for their promises. When they don’t behave as well as they claim they do, consumers should be able to sue.
Clothing sizes are meaningless. Even with advanced body-scanning machines, it’s hard to assign a number that fully defines anyone’s figure.
Surprising discoveries
Two drinks a day is too much. Just in time for the holidays, Australian health officials said adults should have no more than 1.4 alcoholic beverages a day, down from the previous guidance.
European scooter companies aren’t scared of a little snow. Startups operating in frigid Nordic cities have adapted to winters, where average temperatures dip as low as -6°C (21°F).
Climbing Everest now requires a check-up and proof of insurance. After a spate of deaths this year, Nepalese officials are restricting access to the summit.
Britain’s baby prince loves celebrity chefs. One of 19-month-old Prince Louis’s first words was “Mary,” after he recognized TV chef Mary Berry on a cookbook cover.
An Alaskan newspaper is for sale for $0. The owner just wants someone willing to live in Skagway—population 1,000—to keep the publication alive.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, non-alcoholic cocktails, and reasonably accurate resumés 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 Susan Howson, Adam Rasmi, Patrick deHahn, and Nicolás Rivero.