Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today and over the weekend
The EU withdrawal bill heads to Parliament. Fresh from winning a large parliamentary majority, UK prime minister Boris Johnson will introduce an updated framework for leaving the European Union, to be voted on today.
Lebanon could get a new government. Former minister and university professor Hassan Diab, who has Shia militant group Hezbollah’s backing, could be confirmed as prime minister tomorrow as the country moves to resolve a months-long political deadlock and a severe economic crisis.
Uzbekistan holds parliamentary elections. Though the repressive country has been instituting a wave of political reforms, voters in Central Asia’s most populous nation won’t have many choices as no opposition parties have registered to face off against president Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Cuba brings back the prime ministership. President Miguel Díaz-Canel will nominate a person for the role for the first time in 40 years, with Fidel Castro the last person to hold the post. It’s unclear, however, what the job entails.
While you were sleeping
Christianity Today came out against Donald Trump. The influential US magazine, founded by televangelist Billy Graham, called for the US president to be removed from office and said his attempts to coerce a foreign power into harassing a political opponent were “profoundly immoral.”
The US Democratic presidential debate was censored in China. A feed of the event in Los Angeles was blacked out for about nine minutes when candidates were asked if the US should boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over China’s detentions of Uyghur Muslims, and about Hong Kong.
Australia’s prime minister resurfaced. Scott Morrison cut short his Hawaii vacation and apologized for his absence during some of the country’s worst bushfires.
Xi Jinping lauded Macau. The Chinese leader attended a celebration to mark 20 years since the territory’s handover from Portugal and the swearing-in of its new chief executive. Xi is using the three-day visit to herald the casino hub as a new financial center, a rebuke to “disobedient” neighbor Hong Kong.
The US approved an ebola vaccine for the first time. The Food and Drug Administration’s decision follows that of the European Commission, which approved Merck’s Ervebo last month.
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Matters of debate
Don’t buy a 5G smartphone yet. 5G networks haven’t reached a key maturity level for them to make sense for users.
Anarchy is having a comeback. This year’s mass protests show that many people don’t believe in the state’s legitimacy anymore.
Britain has a trans problem. Transphobia has been normalized, in part by the country’s conservative press.
Surprising discoveries
Gift-giving has become more practical. Blame the Society for the Prevention of Useless Gifts for that annoyingly useful present.
UN ambassadors are being forced to shout speeches at one another. Cost-cutting measures mean mics get turned off if meetings run too long.
Wakanda was a free trade partner of the US—for a bit. The US agriculture department used the fictional region from Black Panther to test a website function.
Train-bragging is on the rise thank to Greta Thunberg. Swedes who emulate the teen activist’s preferred method of travel are posting about it on Facebook.
Untitled Goose Game is a left-wing icon. A disempowered goose trying to stir up minor mayhem is a symbol of sticking it to the man.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, train receipts, and Wakandan trade deals 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 Isabella Steger and edited by Tripti Lahiri.