Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
The world rings in a new year. Sydney will host one of the globe’s first celebrations with a massive fireworks display after local authorities granted organizers an exemption from a total fire ban meant to keep rampant bushfires from spreading.
North Korea’s deadline for US nuclear talks expires. Kim Jong Un’s government has threatened to deliver an ominous “Christmas gift” if US diplomats don’t renegotiate a new nuclear deal by today. North Korea has resumed tests on what experts speculate is an intercontinental ballistic missile since talks broke down earlier this year.
Record cold weather freezes Delhi. The city saw its coldest December day in 119 years on Monday, with temperatures plunging to 2°C in some parts of the region. Dense fog has compounded the problem by delaying flights and metro services. The weather is not expected to warm or clear for days.
While you were sleeping
Nissan’s ex-CEO fled to Lebanon. Carlos Ghosn, the former head of the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi car making alliance, made a surprise arrival in his home country after leaving Japan where he was being held on bail over alleged financial crimes.
India allowed Huawei to conduct 5G trials. The news is undoubtedly welcome at the Chinese tech giant after a year that saw US sanctions and international pressure curtail Huawei’s networking business. The trials will reportedly begin as soon as January.
US diplomats said they’ll lobby China’s allies over Uygurs. American secretary of state Mike Pompeo vowed to raise the issue with representatives from Central Asian countries that have supported Beijing’s internment of hundreds of thousands of Muslim citizens.
Iran seized a Malaysian ship. State media reported that the Revolutionary Guard confiscated 1.4 million liters of “smuggled fuel” onboard and arrested 16 crew members.
A big Chinese hack was worse than we thought. The Wall Street Journal reports that the “Cloud Hopper” cyberattack—allegedly carried out by hackers connected to China’s intelligence services—gained access to secrets from corporate giants including Rio Tinto and Philips.
Bad news for cannabis investors. The first-ever exchange-traded fund in the marijuana sector has fallen to a new all-time low. One analyst blames the poor performance on “provincial mismanagement” and a lack of access to US markets.
Quartz membership
Are you spending time the way you want to? If you want to change how you fill your waking hours, or at least feel less overwhelmed, start by rethinking your relationship with time itself. Quartz at Work editor Heather Landy offers three ways to think about time—as a resource, as a currency, as a source of conflict—each of which will help you think through how you want to manage your time in the New Year.
Quartz obsession
There are 16 types of people in this world…at least according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the most popular personality test in the world. The MBTI is used to assess students, soldiers, employees, and even potential dates on Tinder. But despite its widespread appeal, the test is consistently seen as unscientific and meaningless. Analyze it with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
There’s nothing wrong with a hotel breakfast. It’s an easy, affordable way to feel grounded while you’re far from home.
Right-wing populism is on the rise. Since the mid-2010s, democracies all over the world have turned toward the right. Where does your country stand?
Don’t read another top 10 songs list. You should write your own instead, and share it with friends.
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 fulfill 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, school permission slips, 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 Max Lockie and Nicolás Rivero.