Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A reading on China’s services sector. Investors await the Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for December. The metric hit a seven-month high in November, suggesting short-term stabilization in the economy.
Ford shares its sales figures. The automaker will reveal how many vehicles it sold in the fourth quarter and last year overall. Last week, most major carmakers reported declining or flat US sales in 2019, with one bright spot being Tesla, whose market cap is now more than double Ford’s.
Harvey Weinstein’s trial begins. In the latest chapter of the #MeToo movement, the Hollywood producer will face charges of sexually assaulting two women. The proceedings will likely take a few months.
Over the weekend
China replaced its top official in Hong Kong. Beijing appointed Luo Huining, known as an enforcer, as director of the Liaison Office in Hong Kong. Departing the role is Wang Zhimin, criticized for not anticipating the protests that followed a proposed extradition bill.
A pneumonia outbreak spread in China. Authorities in Wuhan reported 59 people had been admitted to hospital with the unidentified strain of the disease, and confirmed it wasn’t SARS or bird flu. Singapore, which like other nations has erected fever checks, also reported its first case.
A Chinese trade delegation made US travel plans. A team led by vice-premier Liu He will head to Washington on Jan. 13 in order to sign phase one of a US-China trade deal, the South China Morning Post reported. It would be a truce of sorts in the costly trade war.
Iran moved further away from the 2015 nuclear deal. The ruling regime said it will not respect any limits established in the pact on the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges. That followed the US killing Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike last week.
Iraqi lawmakers voted to expel US troops. Parliament passed the nonbinding resolution in response to the Soleimani killing, which occurred in Baghdad. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed confidence that the Iraqi people wanted the troops to remain.
Quartz membership
US president Dwight Eisenhower famously said, “I have two kinds of problems, the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.” In the Quartz at Work guide to structuring your day, Khe Hy explains how to overcome this dilemma—as well as why you need to schedule time in your calendar for “deep work.”
Quartz obsession
Hurricane hunters are true riders on the storm. When a hurricane or a typhoon begins lumbering across the ocean toward land, most of us hunker down or get out of the way. But one small group of adrenaline-loving scientists and pilots flies directly into the storm. Why would any sane person bother? Buckle up, the Quartz Obsession is going in.
Matters of debate
Inequality between cities makes people worse off. National governments should step in to level the playing field.
Office treats bring us back to a state of nature. The snack free-for-all requires strategy and cunning.
Science conferences need a revamp. The dull, presentation-centered format doesn’t align with how people think, learn, or get inspired.
Surprising discoveries
Delta’s uniforms are making flight attendants sick. In a new lawsuit, workers claim the high-tech garments contain chemicals like mercury that give them rashes and headaches.
“Ethical veganism” is entitled to religious protections. A British court ruled it’s a philosophical belief that should be protected in the workplace.
The US has fought in every decade since its founding. The killing of Qassem Soleimani brings the country’s unbroken streak into the 2020s.
Carlos Ghosn snuck out of Japan in a suitcase. The former Nissan CEO appears to have hired security contractors to stuff him in a box and smuggle him onto a plane.
Australia’s bushfires generate their own weather systems. Hot air and smoke create thunderous “fire clouds” whose lightning can spread fires further.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, office treats, and harmless airline uniforms 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 Steve Mollman and Nicolás Rivero.