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What to watch for today
The UK Parliament chooses a new Commons speaker. Lawmakers will pick a replacement via secret ballot for the charismatic John Bercow, who stepped down last week. Deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle of the Labour party is seen as a frontunner.
Iran marks an important anniversary. Four decades ago on this day, Iranians took over the US embassy compound following an American decision to allow the deposed Shah to leave the country to seek medical treatment. New anti-US murals were painted on the walls of the building ahead of a rally planned for today.
Uber reports earnings. The ride-sharing company has already lost over $6 billion this fiscal year. Analysts expect the losses to continue, but at a slower pace after Uber managed to cut its expenses. The stock is trading about 30% below its debut price in May.
Donald Trump sends a letter. As of today he can formally ask to leave the Paris climate accord, which he’s long railed against. That would trigger a yearlong countdown before the US can officially exit, and in the meantime he can trumpet the request to his base.
Over the weekend
Toxic smog in Delhi hit “unbearable levels.” Authorities urged people to stay indoors as the air quality drastically deteriorated India’s capital. Schools were closed and more than 30 flights diverted. The pollution mostly stems from farmers burning crop stubble, which emits a toxic cocktail.
Nigel Farage said he won’t run. The leader of the Brexit Party will instead support 600 candidates contesting seats in the December election. Boris Johnson earlier rejected a proposal for the Conservatives to join a “leave alliance” with Farage, who is seeking a much harder Brexit than the one presented in the prime minister’s deal.
A bloody weekend in Hong Kong. An attacker stabbed several people and partially bit off the ear of a candidate running in upcoming location elections, the latest in a series of physical assaults on opposition politicians.
Aramco’s IPO got the green light. The stock listing for Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil company is set for December. Bankers have placed its valuation in the range of $1.5 trillion, easily surpassing Apple and Microsoft. Officials didn’t say how many shares will be sold.
Betomania fizzled out. Beto O’Rourke, the former congressman from Texas, dropped out of the Democratic primary for US president. He never caught fire with voters like some pundits thought he might after nearly defeating Ted Cruz in a Senate race last year.
Quartz Obsession
Are you watching the Watchmen? Creator Alan Moore isn’t happy about it, but the big-budget comic-book adaptation is doing brisk business on HBO as the next big prestige TV show. Makes sense—Watchmen was arguably the first prestige comic, shaping the extended universe we all live in now. Tune in at the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of Debate
Computerized medical records are bad. They increase healthcare costs and force doctors to focus on billing instead of patients.
Open borders are a trillion-dollar shortcut to global prosperity. The new wealth created by immigrants would help lead to a worldwide boom.
Netflix is hamstringing The Witcher. The upcoming series wants to be Game of Thrones, but has no chance of matching the HBO hit’s success with its episodes being released all at once.
Surprising discoveries
Censorship of Hong Kong spread to a UK cake contest. The organizer disqualified a confection featuring a protest message, saying it “led to complaints from attendees.”
Researchers are turning to Reddit to tackle the US opioid crisis. They’re also looking at the dark web for clues on how people are attempting to get sober.
A French space startup is launching wine into orbit. It hopes microgravity and other factors will lead to superior taste.
No refugees were resettled in the US in October. It marks the first time that happened since records began.
Amsterdam citizens can now own a piece of their city—literally. Stones and gables dating back to the 17th century, dislodged by urban renewal projects, are now up for grabs.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, political cakes, and bits of Amsterdam to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was written by Isabella Steger and edited by Tripti Lahiri.