Powell’s projections, Aramco soars, petiquette

Blue Origin launches again. The space company founded by Jeff Bezos plans to launch its third suborbital mission from its Texas spaceport. The reusable New Shepard rocket is expected to fly just past the edge of space—about 66 miles up—for the sixth time in its career, carrying a cargo of scientific experiments and publicity stunts. [Quartz Daily Brief]( Sponsored by Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Blue Origin launches again. The space company founded by Jeff Bezos plans to launch its third suborbital mission from its Texas spaceport. The reusable New Shepard rocket is expected to fly just past the edge of space—about 66 miles up—for the sixth time in its career, carrying a cargo of [scientific experiments and publicity stunts](. Lululemon posts earnings. Investors will be focused in part on whether the apparel company’s growing men’s division and international efforts can give a [boost to sales](. American Eagle also [discloses results]( offering some insight into consumer spending. Fed talks. Traders are looking to see whether the central bank is becoming more optimistic about the economy, following last month’s bumper payrolls report, when policy makers [conclude their meeting](. Chair Jerome Powell will likely be asked about a [cash crunch]( in funding markets. Sponsor content by Citrix Is it on employers to promote healthy tech relationships? New research from Citrix and Quartz Insights shows that when companies foster positive connections to technology, they can improve employee satisfaction and engagement. [Test your instincts on digital wellness.]( While you were sleeping Aramco shares soared. The oil giant’s [stock popped 10%]( daily limit—in its trading debut. The Saudi company’s $1.88 trillion market capitalization puts it ahead of giants like Apple and Microsoft, but is well below the $2 trillion valuation the kingdom had earlier been seeking. The World Trade Organization stumbled. For two years, the Trump administration [has blocked the appointment of new judges]( (paywall), crippling the trade body’s system for dispute settlement. Now it no longer has enough judges to make binding rulings. Its [director general says]( the crisis will take months to repair. Myanmar’s leader defended it against accusations of genocide. Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Laureate and the country’s de facto prime minister, [told the International Court of Justice]( that Gambia’s lawsuit alleging the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority is “incomplete and misleading.” Europe geared up for a green deal. The European Commission, headed by Ursula von der Leyen, has a timeline for making the [continent carbon neutral](. The European Parliament will then debate the ambitious measures. China was said to have jailed the most journalists. The country has [imprisoned 48 journalists]( this year, putting it ahead of Turkey. A report by the Committee to Protect Journalists said the number of jailed news providers has “steadily increased” since President Xi Jinping consolidated his control. Quartz membership [Sign up]( for your free membership trial. Brazil has a gold rush of fintech investment. Nubank, a digital bank in Sao Paulo, is one of the [fastest growing financial institutions]( in the world. Venture capital investors have taken note of the fintech unicorn’s soaring valuation and are pouring money into the region’s startups. Quartz’s John Detrixhe spoke exclusively with Nubank’s CEO for our field guide, [Beyond the fintech hype](. Quartz obsession You have thoughts and feelings, and you’re aware those around you do, too. That’s called the theory of mind, a fascinating concept in philosophy that has spanned centuries. Now it’s part of a discussion on whether only humans possess it. Recent research says animals might; but can machines develop the abilities within theory of mind? [Ponder it all over at the Quartz Obsession](. Matters of debate Airbnb has changed the metrics of owning property. Landlords [see profit in short-term rentals](. Video games are a new form of literature. They’re [all about the story]( and the art of storytelling. The battle for the apostrophe is worth fighting. Never mind that the man who founded the society for its defense recently [seemed to give up](. Message from our Partner From Our Friends at Need2Know. Looking for all the news in half the time? Our friends at Cheddar’s Need2Know podcast give you all the news that matters with a little biting wit. The best part? You'll be done in 10 minutes or less. [Take a listen.]( Surprising discoveries There’s no way to anticipate volcanic eruptions. The warning periods, for those such as on New Zealand’s White Island, [can be in the order of seconds](. Petiquette exists. It’s [not for dogs]( but their owners. Apple’s top-flight computer costs more than a BMW. The newly released Mac Pro [can cost more than $50,000]( with all its optional bells and whistles. Asia’s “water towers” are more vulnerable than others. Of the world’s 78 mountainous regions that generate and store water, [this one’s faces unique stresses](. December is prime time for investigative reporting. Publications [slide in bombshell stories]( ahead of the Pulitzer submission deadline. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, men’s yoga gear, and punctuation rules 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 John Detrixhe and Rashmee Roshan Lall. Enjoying the Daily Brief? Forward it to a friend! They can [click here to sign up.]( Want to advertise in the Quartz Daily Brief? Send us an email at ads@qz.com. To unsubscribe from the Quartz Daily Brief, [click here](.