Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Donald Trump campaigns. The president will visit Kentucky to show support for governor Matt Bevin, who faces Andy Beshear in Tuesday’s tight gubernatorial race. Mississippi and Virginia also vote tomorrow.
Christine Lagarde makes her first speech. The new European Central Bank chief will lay out her views on Europe’s economic and fiscal policy in Berlin. Lagarde is likely to argue that thrifty Germany and other European countries should spend more to boost demand.
Emmanuel Macron visits China. The French president will attend an import fair in Shanghai and discuss trade deals with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Macron reportedly won’t avoid thorny issues such as the Hong Kong protests and the repression of Uyghurs.
Over the weekend
The whistleblower in the Ukraine case has offered to answer questions. The person’s lawyer said Republicans could submit questions and receive “timely answers.” On Sunday, Trump repeated calls for the whistleblower’s identity to be made public. Impeachment proceedings continue this week but many no-shows are expected.
Toxic smog in Delhi hit “unbearable levels.” And the authorities introduced traffic restrictions early on Monday. With the air quality deteriorating drastically—because of farmers burning crop stubble—the state government closed schools and asked people to stay indoors.
Mikhail Gorbachev issued a warning. The former Soviet leader told the BBC that the rift between the West and Russia—both nuclear-armed—puts the world in “colossal danger.” His comments come as Germany prepares to celebrate 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Saudi Arabia launched Aramco’s initial public offering. The Saudi king said the state-owned oil company will be listed in December. The company is expected to reach a valuation of $1.5 trillion, surpassing Apple and Microsoft.
Trump threatened to cut funding to fight California’s fires. The president claimed the state’s Democrat governor, Gavin Newsom, is not doing enough on forest management. Newsom responded, “You don’t believe in climate change. You are excused from this conversation.”
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
Open borders can contribute to global prosperity. Immigrants create wealth, which could lead to a global economic boom.
Vaping doesn’t lead teens to smoke. A new study says US teenagers form the habit for other reasons, not least anxiety, parental influence, and peer pressure.
Digitized medical records aren’t healthful. They increase costs and incentivize doctors to focus on billing, not their patients.
Surprising discoveries
A livestream of Iceland’s last McDonald’s burger turns 10. It still looks the same as when it began, to mark the chain’s exit from the country.
A French startup is launching wines into orbit. The goal is to see if the aging process of the drink is different in space.
A baker was disqualified from a UK contest for referencing Hong Kong. The cake was deemed offensive.
The US didn’t resettle a single refugee in October. It’s the first time that’s happened since records began.
Amsterdam citizens can now own a piece of their city—literally. Antique stonework dislodged by urban renewal projects is now up for grabs.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, historic stones, and censored cakes 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 Luiz Romero and Rashmee Roshan Lall.