Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
China announced sanctions on US military contractors. The action is targeted at firms that participated in US arms sales to Taiwan, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin, China’s foreign ministry said.
Samsung’s chairman died. Lee Kun-hee, the son of the firm’s founder and South Korea’s richest person, led the company’s transformation into a global technology leader—though not without controversy—and has left behind an estimated inheritance of $21 billion.
Chileans voted to rewrite their constitution. With almost all the votes counted, a landslide 78% of voters agreed to scrap the country’s dictatorship-era 1980 constitution in a referendum that was called after mass protests last year over inequality.
Covid-19 vaccine trials have produced promising results for the elderly. In early findings, the Oxford University and AstraZeneca vaccine produces a robust immune response in older participants by triggering protective antibodies and T-cells.
The aerospace industry is tanking. In its worst quarter ever, the global industry saw record low orders for new aircraft. In the UK alone, 12,000 jobs have been lost or are at risk, many coming from Airbus and engine-manufacturer Rolls-Royce.
What to watch for this week
Monday: The US Senate is set to confirm Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
Tuesday: India and the US are expected to sign a military pact. Microsoft and Pfizer report quarterly earnings.
Wednesday: Analysts expect Australia’s inflation figure to take a record dive. The CEOs of Twitter, Faceboook, and Google testify before the US Senate on companies’ liability for content their users create.
Thursday: The US is expected to report record-breaking third-quarter GDP. A flurry of earnings come out, including Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook, and Twitter.
Friday: The euro zone reports third-quarter GDP.
Saturday: China reports manufacturing data.
Sunday: Israel begins human trials of a potential Covid-19 vaccine.
The final stretch
We’re in the last week of one of the most divisive US elections in history. Here’s what’s dominating the news.
😷 Coronavirus crisis. US vice president Mike Pence said he will keep campaigning despite five of his aides testing positive for Covid-19 this weekend. The US reported a record 85,000 new coronavirus cases on Friday.
📱 Facebook measures. The platform has reportedly designed a set of tools to slow down the spread of viral content and political posts in the wake of contentious election results.
⚖️ Supreme Court stakes. Increasingly political fights over filling the court has some scholars proposing that the US constitution be updated.
✉️ Voter participation. Around 60 million Americans have already voted and a record turnout is anticipated. The uptick in postal votes this year prompted design reporter Anne Quito to investigate why it’s so hard to fix the US’s poorly designed ballot.
Charting enthusiastic CEOs
An uncontained pandemic. A shrinking economy. What could corporate executives possibly be excited about?
A lot, it turns out. Executives said they were “super excited” more than ever in the third quarter, according to a Quartz analysis of transcripts from earnings calls, conferences, and analyst and shareholder meetings.
The latest batch of earnings calls in October suggest the corporate big cheese are still in good cheer (or at least pretending to be when analysts and shareholders are on the line). Read more about why executives are so optimistic.
Welcome to the splinternet
For many people across the world, the internet has delivered on its promise to radically accelerate access to information. But it’s become clear that we don’t have the ideal version of a singular internet that early enthusiasts might have hoped for. The internet’s splintering is accelerating, exemplified by China’s increasingly influential philosophy of cyber-sovereignty, and US president Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a sale of TikTok.
For our latest field guide, Quartz asked experts to help us imagine the experiences of internet users across the world five years from now, based on the present-day battles between tech giants, politicians, and internet freedom fighters that are directly shaping our online future. You can peer into that fragmented future in our guide to the splinternet.
✦ Superglue your splinternet with a Quartz membership today. Use the promo code QZTWENTY to unlock a 20% discount.
Surprising discoveries
An extensive search is underway for a celebrity dolphin. Fungie, a mainstay of Ireland’s Dingle Bay and a significant tourist draw, has been missing for a week.
This 3D-printed boat can sail down a human hair. Dubbed “Bench,” the teeny tug boat is part of physics research on microswimmers—microscopic organisms or objects that can move through liquids.
A Russian village’s mayoral election went off script. To create the illusion of a competitive vote, the incumbent picked the city hall cleaner to run against him. She won.
A green puppy was born in Sardinia. Pistachio’s rare and temporary hue is from exposure to a green pigment called biliverdin in the womb.
The pandemic is a boost for Barbie. Mattel said parents looking for screen-free ways of entertaining kids have led to the strongest sales in 20 years.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, tiny tug boats, and pandemic Barbies 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 Amanda Shendruk, Mary Hui, Tripti Lahiri, Marc Bain, and Jackie Bischof.