Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
A special election in North Carolina. The contest in the reliably red ninth district, which Donald Trump won by 12 points, is being closely watched for clues to 2020. Trump says it’s not a bellwether and some analysts warn against reading too much into one poll.
Apple unveils new gear. The tech giant is expected to showcase three new iPhones, a bigger Macbook Pro, and a new generation of watches at its biggest annual event, a cross between a press conference and a fashion show. It could be the first year the company focuses mainly on services—including subscriptions and online content—to make up for the slowing smartphone market.
Jack Ma has a gala sendoff. Alibaba employees will gather at an Olympic-sized stadium to mark Ma’s retirement as chairman of the e-commerce company. China’s richest man had announced last year he would step down on his 55th birthday. He’ll be replaced by the more low-key CEO Daniel Zhang.
A new-look European Commission. Incoming president Ursula von der Leyen, a former German defense minister, will present her proposed team of 27 commissioners—13 women and 14 men. No Brits will be appointed on the assumption that Brexit will happen on Oct. 31.
While you were sleeping
MPs dealt Boris Johnson another defeat. The UK parliament began five weeks of suspension with lawmakers, yet again, rejecting the prime minister’s bid for a snap election. MPs also voted to force the government to publish details of its no-deal Brexit plans.
A US federal judge allowed a nationwide lawsuit against Facebook. A privacy class action suit, which seeks damages from the social media giant for allowing third parties to access users’ data, was given the green light. The judge said the company’s views on privacy were “so wrong.”
North Korea fired more projectiles. Just hours after Pyongyang agreed to more talks with the US this month, the country launched “unidentified projectiles” towards the sea, according to the South Korean military.
Huawei dropped a lawsuit against the US government. The Chinese phonemaker is no longer suing the commerce department and other agencies over seized telecommunications equipment, after Washington returned the gear last month. Earlier this year, the US put Huawei on a blacklist that bars American companies from selling products to it.
The sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale was released. The midnight launch of The Testaments, Margaret Atwood’s Booker-shortlisted return to the dystopia of Gilead, was attended by the author herself in London. Streaming service Hulu has already bought the rights.
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We continue our week-long deep dive into the vaping invasion, with a look at how a spate of recent illnesses has brought longstanding questions about the health consequences of e-cigarettes to the fore. Also, read our state of play analysis on how tobacco companies are joining forces to reinvent smoking in the 21st century—and create a $28 billion vaping industry.
Quartz Obsession
Digital easter eggs started as a workplace protest. The little messages and in-jokes coded into hidden places in video games started in the 1970s, before video-game programmers had the status they do today. Lacking recognition, they’d subtly embed it into their work. As companies grew to tolerate them, they’ve become a feature, not a bug. Go hunting at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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Your expense report says a lot about you. The things you demand reimbursement for offer a window into your soul.
Taylor Swift is a philosopher. The singer says resentment is about self-respect—and self-protection.
Travelers should pay tourist taxes. Levies make sure visitors benefit the community, not just the businesses that serve them.
Surprising discoveries
Robots are revolutionizing religion. Machines are delivering sermons, performing sacred rituals, and doling out blessings.
Some technology really is magic. Anastasia Synn has more than two dozen microchips and magnets in her body for her work as a “cyborg magician.”
Researchers are using YouTube to study autism. Scraping online videos, a team of scientists trained AI to analyze the body movements of children with autism.
Private Instagram posts aren’t really private. Photos on private accounts can be accessed, downloaded, and distributed publicly by friends and followers by means of a simple trick.
Americans believe the truth is out there. One in three Americans think some UFO sightings are real aliens, and two-thirds think the government isn’t telling the full story.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, philosophical pop songs, and not-so-private Instas to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Adam Rasmi and Rashmee Roshan Lall.