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Here’s what you need to know
Britain’s and Europe’s Brexit negotiators made up. The UK had been stewing over Europe’s message that it needed to bend more to get a post-Brexit trade deal, but was mollified by EU negotiator Michel Barnier’s remarks yesterday that he would seek “necessary compromises” from both sides. Trade talks will restart today.
The FBI said Iran and Russia have US voter information. Officials claimed Iran tried to rile up Democratic voters with emails purportedly from the far-right group the Proud Boys. The unusual announcement comes just ahead of the final showdown between US president Donald Trump and Democrat rival Joe Biden Thursday night.
Britain’s finance minister addresses parliament. Rishi Sunak is under pressure to provide more support as businesses suffer under renewed lockdown restrictions, and official figures showed 12 million adults are struggling to pay bills. A McKinsey survey of 2,200 firms across the UK and Europe found more than half expect to go bankrupt in a year if revenues don’t rise.
Thailand’s emergency decree goes to court. The country’s prime minister hinted yesterday he could lift last week’s ban on gatherings, which failed to stop mass protests, but demonstrators rejected that olive branch. They’re hoping a court hearing today will take matters out of his hands.
Tesla tore it up again. The electric vehicle leader recorded its fifth consecutive quarter of profit, beat Wall Street’s revenue estimates, and saw its stock pop in extended trading. The company continues to build factories on three continents and recently began shipping Shanghai-made machines to Europe.
Huawei shows off its new flagship phone. The Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro will cost well in excess of $1,000, but won’t come with the Google suite of apps because of US sanctions. Meanwhile, India’s Jio is advancing on becoming a US-allied 5G and app giant—it partnered this week with US chipmaker Qualcomm, and just launched a web browser.
The situation in Nigeria
Since the beginning of Nigeria’s anti-police brutality protests, tagged #EndSARS in reference to the name of a reviled police squad, there has been widespread suspicion that the government would shut down internet access. Those fears have only grown after the army was filmed firing live rounds into a crowd of unarmed and peaceful protesters on Tuesday.
These protests, the largest in at least a decade, may have just started this month, but their roots go back to the colonial era. For Quartz Africa, Benjamin Maiangwa of the University of Manitoba argues that addressing the protesters’ demands hinges on understanding present-day Nigeria not as a country but as a business entity rooted in the British model of corporate colonization.
Right now, however, a new generation of Nigerians is leveraging tech and savvy street protest tactics to fight for a better future in Africa’s most populous country.
Charting Nestle’s bet on pets
A beloved animal friend for you means big business for Nestle. The Swiss company’s latest earnings report showed quarterly growth of 4.9%—its best in six years.
Some of Nestle’s core products, water and candy, have taken a hit as home-bound consumers cut out impulse purchases. But its pet food brand, Purina PetCare, was a main contributor in each of the company’s global markets, growing 10.6% so far this year.
Learning to live with Covid-19
It’s no secret that lockdowns don’t have the same impact on everyone. Young people often suffer the most emotionally while the elderly and other at-risk populations are more likely to become severely ill. No matter what your situation is, there are strategies and advice to deal with the new normal.
- 🌐 A second wave of lockdowns is sweeping the globe. Here’s how to prepare.
- 😬 Does that make you nervous? You’re not alone. Panic attacks are rising.
- 🕺 And if you’re feeling unproductive lately, try making a “ta-dah” list!
We’re obsessed with post-election chaos
It’ll be madness. With Trump refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power and disinformation campaigns sewing doubts, not to mention the mail-in or drop-off ballots necessitated by the pandemic, the US general election on Nov. 3 is already likely to rank among the most controversial in American history. But elections—both in the US and around the world—devolve into madness fairly regularly. The Quartz Weekly Obsession invites you to prepare yourself for a bumpy ride.
Get the Obsession delivered to your inbox every week—you know what, how about we send you two every week for the next five weeks? Why not?
Podcast laboratory
If you ever thought the podcast you obsess over would make a good movie or TV series, someone in Hollywood probably agrees with you.
Hollywood has mined podcasts for story ideas since the early 2000s, but the relationship between the two industries is now at the next level. Film and TV production companies increasingly use podcasts as their personal content incubators, testing out ideas on the audio-based medium to decide if they should make the jump to screens.
Find out how film studios are using podcasts to decide which movies to make in our latest field guide to the podcast business.
✦ In the podcast-inspired movie about our relationship, today is the day you’d try a Quartz membership, ultimately deciding to use promo code QZTWENTY to unlock a 20% discount for your first year.
Surprising discoveries
What a ride. The Fast & Furious saga will finally reach the end of the line—don’t worry, spinoffs will go the distance.
A building “walked” through Shanghai. It took 200 devices and 18 days to move the primary school out of the way for a new commercial center.
Placebos don’t need to go undercover. The treatments can work even when patients are onto their little game.
The UN is stewing over borscht. A Ukrainian effort to claim the dish as its own awoke Russia’s ire.
A spool of thread became a house in Osaka. The lengthy line of trades was all part of a bartering experiment.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, perambulatory buildings, and bartered real estate to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our iOS app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Tripti Lahiri, Mary Hui, Susan Howson, and Max Lockie.