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What to watch for today and over the weekend
US-China trade talks continue. Donald Trump will sit down with China’s vice premier Liu He today at the White House for deeper trade negotiations. The top-level conversation appeared to stall yesterday, but the Dow rose 100 points on news of further meetings.
Yet more Brexit talks. Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay meets with the EU’s top negotiator, after “detailed and constructive” talks between UK leader Boris Johnson and Ireland’s Leo Varadkar. A deal before the Oct. 17-18 EU summit remains unlikely.
Xi Jinping visits Narendra Modi. The two-day meeting comes at a delicate time for China-India ties—Beijing has criticized New Delhi’s clampdown in the disputed region of Kashmir. Tomorrow, the Chinese president heads to Nepal to discuss a Himalayan railway.
While you were sleeping
The Prince Estate complained about Trump. At a Minneapolis rally, the US president played Purple Rain without permission, derided Minnesota lawmaker Ilhan Omar, and said the impeachment investigation is an attempt to “erase your vote.“
Ethiopia’s leader won the Nobel peace prize. Abiy Ahmed, who resolved a conflict with Eritrea, was selected among 301 candidates. Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg was the bookies’ favorite.
Two missiles reportedly struck an Iranian oil tanker. The vessel was sailing through the Red Sea, off the Saudi coast, and caught fire. The incident follows several attacks on oil tankers from which Washington blames Tehran, a charge it denies.
Casualties are mounting in Turkey’s attack on Kurds in Syria. US Republicans said they will sanction Turkey, after president Trump decided to end support for Kurdish forces, an ally in the fight against ISIS.
NASA explored the Earth-space frontier. The US agency launched a satellite, to search for more clues about the volatile region. Scientists want to learn more about the mix of gases in the ionosphere, and airglow.
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Apple’s growth is slowing dramatically. In the third quarter of 2019, it generated nearly $54 billion in revenue—a significant sum to be sure, but one that represents a growth rate of just 1%. As its iPhone sales flag and innovation slows, the company is exploring new territory to secure its future. In a member exclusive, Quartz reporter Dasia Moore takes a detailed look at the key to Apple’s future success.
Quartz Obsession
Get into getting out. Escape rooms are about being with people—their full and true selves. There’s something uniquely illuminating about working against the clock in a highly artificial race for survival. Whatever personality traits define you, the room and its series of mental and physical puzzles tend to manifest, but which kind of escape roomer are you? Unlock the truth with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of debate
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It’s OK to joke about climate change. Humor makes the complexities seem more manageable.
Stop innovating smartphone design. Society has already decided how mobile devices should look.
The Nobel literature prize selection is still imperfect. One of the 2019 awards went to another problematic white man.
Surprising discoveries
Left at the altar. A piece of cloth from an English church might be from a dress worn by Queen Elizabeth I.
Giant spiders are descending on San Francisco. Thousands of horny tarantulas are roaming the streets.
Urea was a building block for life. The chemical, found in human pee, might have been vital in producing the first genes.
Jeff Bezos’ fortune is cosmically huge. The average US worker would need 2.8 million years to match the Amazon CEO’s net worth.
Apple rolled out accessibility emojis. Other new keyboard additions include an otter, waffle, and pinching fingers.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, Bezos-sized fortunes, and Prince records to hi@qz.com. Join the next chapter of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written brought to you by Adam Rasmi and Hasit Shah.