Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Germanwings crew goes on strike. Staff at Lufthansa’s low-cost carrier begin three days of industrial action during the busy new year period. The strike affects 180 flights of sister company Eurowings.
The UN discusses North Korea. The Security Council meets for a second round of negotiations on a Russian and Chinese proposal to lift some sanctions on Pyongyang. Beijing and Moscow hope the resolution can help restore nuclear talks between the US and North Korea.
Turkey considers military action in Libya. Representatives of the Turkish government and the opposition meet today to discuss sending soldiers to defend Tripoli’s UN-backed government, which is fighting against rebel forces supported by Russia and the UAE.
Over the weekend
A court in Cyprus found a British teenager guilty of lying about a gang rape. The 19-year-old maintained she had recanted her accusation against 12 Israelis under duress from police. The court rejected the claim, and she faces up to a year in jail.
Tesla delivered its first China-made cars. The US automaker began building its factory in Shanghai just a year ago, aiming to increase its presence in China, the biggest car market in the world, and avoid tariffs on US-made cars.
A bombing in Somalia killed at least 79 people. A truck blew up at an intersection in Mogadishu, the latest of several attacks in the Somali capital this year. No one has claimed responsibility yet.
Fires have caused massive evacuations in Australia. Tens of thousands of people were told to leave the state of Victoria. Since September, more than 100 bushfires have destroyed almost 10 million acres in five states.
An attacker stabbed five people at a Hanukkah party in New York. Governor Andrew Cuomo called the knife rampage at a Hasidic rabbi’s home an act of domestic terrorism. Separately, a gunman opened fire at a church in Texas, killing one person before being shot by parishioners.
China sent a scientist to prison for his gene-editing work. He Jiankui, who caused a major stir last year when he claimed to have created the first “gene-edited” babies, was handed a three-year prison sentence and a $430,000 fine. Two other researchers also received sentences.
Quartz membership
Are you spending time the way you want to? Many New Year’s resolutions are responses to that question. In this week’s state of play, Quartz at Work editor Heather Landy offers three ways to think about time: as a resource, as a currency, and as a source of conflict. Each will help you figure out how to manage your time in the New Year.
Quartz obsession
Is it the Berenstein Bears or the Berenstain bears? Did Darth Vader really say “Luke, I am your father”? Didn’t Nelson Mandela die in the 1980s? All of these inaccurate memories are examples of the Mandela effect, in which a critical mass of people believe something occurred that didn’t. Demystify your memory with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
Right-wing populism is on the rise. Where does your country stand?
Don’t read another top 10 songs list. You should write your own instead, and share it with friends.
Women in financial services are tackling an underserved market: themselves. More and more companies are addressing the need to finance women’s businesses.
Surprising discoveries
Sharon Stone says she was blocked on Bumble. Several users apparently complained that the Basic Instinct star’s profile on the dating app was fake.
Greta Thunberg’s dad wasn’t happy about her skipping school. But Svante Thunberg now says his daughter is much happier after becoming a climate activist.
The new Little Women movie isn’t doing as well as the 1994 version. That’s despite the critical acclaim and millions at the box office.
Solar panels are the next home appliance. In California, every newly-built home must now have enough panels to fulfil its electricity requirements.
2020 is the year of the $1 trillion space economy. The trends driving this optimism are the same ones driving the tech economy.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, distant memories, and top 10 songs 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 Hasit Shah and Luiz Romero.