Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The Queen opens the parliament session that will “get Brexit done.” In her speech, Queen Elizabeth will read out prime minister Boris Johnson’s priorities, which will include laws fulfilling his campaign promises to complete Brexit and to boost funding for the National Health Service.
India’s protests swell. Groups have planned demonstrations across 20 cities as anger mounts over a citizenship bill that discriminates against Muslim migrants. Opponents consider the law to be the first legal expression of Hindu nationalism under Narendra Modi’s rule.
Vladimir Putin skirts tough questions. The Russian president holds his annual marathon press conference. Putin will likely be keen to avoid questions about the economy, which is on track to fall short of the 1.8% growth he predicted at last year’s tightly scripted event.
Sweden raises interest rates to 0%. The Scandinavian country is expected to become the first in the world to make its way back out of the negative rate zone, despite ongoing concerns about a global economic slowdown.
While you were sleeping
Donald Trump became the third US president to be impeached. The House of Representatives voted in favor of impeaching the president for abusing his power by asking Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival, and for obstruction of justice. It now falls to the Republican-held Senate to hold an impeachment trial—it is widely expected to acquit.
An influential Philippine family was found guilty of a massacre. A court ruled that three brothers of the Ampatuan political clan were responsible for an ambush in 2009 in southern Maguindanao province that killed 57 people, including the wife and supporters of a rival politician, and journalists.
Bolivia ordered the arrest of its former president. Prosecutors signed the order charging Evo Morales with sedition and terrorism. The socialist politician fled to Mexico last month after protests over a disputed October election result.
Catalan protesters and police clashed outside a soccer game. Demonstrations were expected outside the Barcelona match, the first of the season against bitter rival Real Madrid. It was postponed from October after protests erupted in Catalonia in response to long sentences for pro-independence politicians.
The number of men who smoke dropped for the first time. The World Health Organization said that global smoking had reached a “turning point,” with the number of male smokers no longer rising, but the report did not look at vaping. The number of women smokers started declining earlier.
Quartz membership
The business world has a complicated relationship with water, but some companies are diving in. NGOs have set corporations firmly in their sights, and investors are concerned with the financial implications of operating in water-stressed regions. A number of industries rely heavily on water supply, so they’re players, too, helped by a new industry of water technology consultants. John Engen gives members the who’s who in the water game as part of this week’s field guide.
Quartz obsession
Danish butter cookies are more than just cookies. The international love for the blue-tinned dessert made of flour, sugar, and lots of butter came from competing Nordic companies, the Kjeldsens and the Danish Court-recognized Royal Dansk. The two merged into the Kelsen Group and have a foothold on butter cookies globally today—challenging competitors, and with tins resting in homes for various uses. Dig in with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
The corporate obsession with speed is a problem. Businesses fetishize saving time, even though it can lead to bad design and costly errors.
Ranked lists suck the joy out of everything. Enjoyment should be intrinsic, not measured in relation to other experiences.
Pop culture conceals how hard it still is to be a working mom. Portrayals of thriving mothers don’t give an honest picture.
Surprising discoveries
Headphones are changing the sound of music. Artists have adapted to the listening experience by adjusting vocals and bass levels.
Chinese banks are offering pork rewards to lure customers. An African swine fever epidemic has sent the price of the country’s favorite meat soaring.
The “world’s most powerful” passport isn’t all that popular. Japan’s passport is the easiest to travel with—but three-quarters of its people don’t have one.
Giant rocks are surprisingly bouncy. Boulders going downhill in the Atacama Desert take unexpected trajectories.
Chewing gum is a great way to preserve DNA for posterity. Scientists were able to map a woman’s genetic code from a 6,000-year-old sample.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, bouncy rocks, and joyful ranked lists 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 Tripti Lahiri and edited by Isabella Steger.