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What to watch for today
Shinzo Abe becomes Japan’s longest serving prime minister. With 2,887 days in office, Abe breaks a record set by Taro Katsura over a century ago—but has yet to cement a clear legacy of political wins, despite relatively stable support.
Hong Kong unrest continues as the US senate votes to support protesters. Demonstrators plan to block roads and rail lines across the city after a fiery weekend clash with police at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Meanwhile, US senators hope to unanimously pass a bill sanctioning Chinese officials who undermine the city’s autonomy.
A key witness testifies in the Donald Trump impeachment inquiry. After witnesses to the US president’s call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky kicked off week two of the hearings, Gordon Sondland takes the stand. The American ambassador to the EU, other witnesses have said, worked at the president’s direction to push Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden.
While you were sleeping
Leaders of the UK’s two main parties debated on TV. Though the prime minister and the leader of the Labour party made valiant efforts to sway UK citizens into filling parliament’s seats with their proferred politicians, the first televised showdown between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn came to a close with no clear winner.
The US walked out of defense talks with South Korea. Negotiators for the two countries were at odds over how much funding Seoul should contribute to the stationing of more than 28,000 US troops in South Korea. Both sides insist that the other’s position is unreasonable, and a decades-old alliance is at stake.
Boeing’s moving 737 Max jets again. Two customers—one being Kazakhstan’s Air Astana and the other not yet disclosed—will become the proud owners of 30 and 20 of the beleaguered jets, respectively. With regulatory approval still pending, Boeing sees the new contracts as a vote of confidence from the industry.
The United Nations urged Iran to avoid violence. Amnesty International reported that more than 100 may have died in 21 cities since protests over a gasoline price surge broke out on Friday. A UN spokesperson also called for the reversal of the internet shutdown that has prevented detailed global reporting on the situation.
China and the US are dusting off their abandoned May trade deal. How many tariffs to roll back, and when—those are the key points in the two nations’ trade negotiations, which are now in what may be their final phase. At the same time, vice president Mike Pence indicated that the US could walk away from the table if China uses violence against Hong Kong protesters.
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How ETFs shrunk the stock market. The number of US companies trading on the market has dropped by more than half since the late 1990s. Exchange-traded funds are increasingly dominant, and are making public markets an increasingly unfriendly space, especially for small companies. Our latest members’ field guide explores the problems caused by ETFs.
Quartz Obsession
The black turtleneck is more than a fashion staple. The simple sartorial choice spans generations, exuding sophistication, humility, and intelligence. Activists from Angela Davis to Gloria Steinem and creatives from Andy Warhol to Steve Jobs have pulled off the no-fuss look—making it a rare piece that defies fashion trends. Keep it simple with the Quartz Obsession.
Matters of Debate
No one will miss vaping apps. Apple’s decision to remove the apps—which are mostly still novelty items—is rather toothless.
Flying is globally beneficial. Tourism drives a lot of the world’s efforts surrounding ecological preservation.
The Hong Kong protests are a lesson to the rest of the world. Largely leaderless but committed to unity, the movement is both effective and resilient.
Surprising discoveries
A matchbox-size Charlotte Bronte book cost $660,000. She wrote The Young Men’s Magazine for her toy soldiers when she was just 14.
One million commemorative Brexit coins were melted down. The Royal Mint quietly disposed of them after the UK failed to leave the EU on Oct. 31.
Wasps named after Idris Elba could save the world’s veggies. The newly discovered I elba species kills pests that threaten crops like cabbage and broccoli.
The brain is the most resilient organ in the human body. As brains age and shrink, neurons find new ways to stay connected.
Montana tourists bought bags of toxic waste as souvenirs. A heavily polluted “superfund” site sold sandwich bags of lead- and arsenic-tainted rubble to visitors.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, celebrity wasps, and melted coins to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS or Android, and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Susan Howson and Nicolás Rivero.