US confirmation hearings, Gambia evacuations, vampire bats

[Quartz - qz.com] Good morning, Quartz readers! What to watch for today Germany plans for Brexit. A committee led by chancellor Angela Merkel [will address preparations] “within the federal government as well as by European institutions” ahead of Britain’s departure from the EU. The meeting comes a day after British prime minister Theresa May [laid out a 12-point list] of objectives for Brexit, bringing some much-needed clarity on what it will entail. More confirmation hearings for Trump’s cabinet. The Senate grills health secretary [nominee Tom Price] about potential conflicts of interest. Scott Pruitt, tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, will face questions on his climate-change denial. UN ambassador nominee Nikki Haley and commerce secretary pick Wilbur Ross will also be in the hot seat. Netflix shows off its numbers. Its stock has risen by a dazzling 35% in the past six months and [it’s expected] to have hit 92 million subscribers in the fourth quarter. Investors will be examining its plans to grow beyond 100 million, compete with other movie-streaming competitors, and, as promised, make a profit in 2017. The US economy gets a report card. The Labor department [will release new data] (paywall) on the consumer price index, which rose 1.7% in November from a year ago. The Federal Reserve publishes its industrial production index—economists are expecting an 0.6% increase in December. While you were sleeping Thomas Cook began evacuating tourists from Gambia. Around 1,000 holidaymakers are being flown out of the West African country after president Yahya Jammeh [declared a state of emergency]. Jammeh, who has ruled for 22 years, refused to accept he had lost the recent election to Adama Barrow. The National Assembly has agreed to let him [stay in power three more months]. Pearson looked to sell its stake in Random House. The venerable British education publisher’s [shares fell more than 20%] after sales of its courseware in North America plummeted. More people are renting course books or buying them secondhand and, in the recovering US economy, are getting jobs rather than enrolling in college. Bertelsmann, which co-owns Random House, might buy up Pearson’s share. Russia extended Edward Snowden’s asylum. The former US intelligence contractor [can stay] “for a couple more years,” said a foreign ministry spokeswoman. He has been in Russia since 2013, when he blew the whistle on the US National Security Agency’s vast surveillance program. Recent pleas by human-rights groups for Barack Obama to pardon him have so far been unsuccessful. The Brexit-battered pound was good for Burberry. The iconic but troubled British fashion house celebrated a 3% increase in like-for-like third-quarter sales, as tourists flocked to snap up its [suddenly cheaper luxury products] (paywall). Burberry’s sales also returned to growth in Asia-Pacific, although Hong Kong stores are missing the hordes of mainland Chinese tourists now opting to shop at home or in other countries. Former president George H.W. Bush was taken into hospital. It’s [not clear what’s wrong] with him, but according to his chief of staff, the 92-year-old is “doing fine” and expected to be released in a few days. Quartz obsession interlude Steve LeVine on Quartz’s geopolitical forecasts for 2017: “The anti-elite uprisings all around us appear to signal the close of one era, and the advent of a new, unknown one… But we are in a void at the moment—the dangerous period before a new age fully takes hold, and systems, nations and movements are up for grabs.” [Read more here]. Matters of debate The rules that have kept the world together since 1945 are under attack. Outgoing US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power [had some stern words] for Vladimir Putin. Donald Trump is reviving the “Great Man” theory of history. The president-elect “resists analysis as [a predictable, impersonal force].” African mobile operators and startups should work together. Large telcos can financially support smaller firms and [draw talent from them] in return. Surprising discoveries A self-piloted flying car from Airbus is on the way. CEO Tom Enders said a prototype [will take to the skies] by the end of this year. Australians send generous but useless donations to disaster areas. Aid agencies would rather people [send cash instead] of chainsaws, high heels, and carpets. Vampire bats drink human blood. Scientists in Brazil [found human DNA] in fecal samples from the hairy-legged winged mammals. The world’s second “three-parent baby” was born. Scientists used a new method, called [pronuclear transfer]. Fake news may lead to genocide in South Sudan. Falsehoods spread on social media are [causing massacres] in the world’s youngest country. Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, flying cars, and bat repellant to hi@qz.com. You can follow us [on Twitter] for updates throughout the day or download [our apps for iPhone] and [Android]. Want to receive the Daily Brief at a different time? [Click here] to change your edition. To unsubscribe entirely, [click here]. Like us on [Facebook] and follow us on [Twitter]. Quartz | 675 Avenue of the Americas, 4th Fl | New York, NY 10011 | United States