Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Hong Kong’s mask ban is tested in court. Proceedings begin on two constitutional challenges to the prohibition on facial coverings: One argues that the government’s use of century-old emergency powers to enact it was unconstitutional, and the other focuses more narrowly on the ban.
Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot make their merger official. The companies’ boards have approved the deal, and an official announcement is expected today.
Angela Merkel heads to India. The German chancellor and a delegation of ministers and business leaders kick off a three-day visit aimed at increasing ties—and providing a counterbalance to China’s influence in the region.
Nintendo tries to level up. The gaming giant reports its midyear earnings today. Its stock is up about 26% this year, thanks to the strength of its game lineup.
While you were sleeping
A 1MDB-linked financier forfeited seized assets. Jho Low, the Malaysian fugitive at the center of the scandal, reached an agreement with US prosecutors to relinquish his claim on $900 million of goods believed to be bought with stolen money.
Chile said it won’t host upcoming global summits. Weeks of anti-government protests forced president Sebastian Pinera to cancel the November APEC conference, which was set for the US and China to sign a “phase one” trade deal, and a December UN climate meeting.
A Chinese professor was barred from the Schengen Zone. Belgium accuses Song Xinning, former head of a Confucius Institute in Brussels, of being a recruiter for Chinese intelligence.
The Fed cut rates—again. The US Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark rate by a quarter-percentage point for the third time this year. But low rates don’t appear to be doing much good for the economy.
Twitter unfollowed political ads. CEO Jack Dorsey announced the social platform won’t allow them starting on Nov. 22, tweeting, “We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought.”
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Could cell-cultured meat put farmers out of business? In our latest member exclusive, Quartz reporter Chase Purdy talks to Finless Food CEO Mike Seldon about a possible green new deal for agriculture and fisheries, with a focus on highly localized production that guarantees jobs across the US and beyond. Check out the future of meat in Quartz’s latest field guide.
Quartz Obsession
Contact lenses took centuries to come into focus. Leonardo da Vinci first had the idea; Rene Descartes expanded on it. By the late 1800s, they existed—in uncomfortable glass form. It required the rise of plastics, silicone, and complex hydrogels to give over 150 million people around the world second sight. Look into it with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of Debate
Uber pickups don’t belong on the terminal curb. Airports like Los Angeles International are relocating them to parking areas.
Vegan meats and cheeses shouldn’t be called “fake.” Based on usage, they’re simply different versions of the same food type.
Mars is not a nature preserve. Protecting it and other celestial bodies from human contamination shouldn’t be a priority.
Surprising discoveries
Wanted: your poop pictures. The images will train an algorithm to detect conditions like Crohn’s disease.
Protesters find love on Instagram. Lebanese demonstrators are using the platform to track down their “revolution crushes.”
Asthma is bad for the environment. Some inhalers emit greenhouse gases—and using them can have the same carbon footprint as eating meat.
Suburbanites and city dwellers aren’t all that different. How they spend their time each day is pretty much the same.
An AI earned Grandmaster status in StartCraft II. AlphaStar, from Alphabet’s DeepMind, now ranks above 99.8% of officially ranked human players.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, airport Uber strategies, and poop-free photos to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Steve Mollman and Liz Webber.