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What to watch for today
NATO’s foreign ministers meet in Brussels. They’re expected to discuss issues like terrorism, Russia, and China, as well as recognize space as an operational domain, alongside air, land, sea, and cyber. Separately, UK foreign minister Dominic Raab will discuss Hong Kong’s situation with his French and German counterparts.
Gordon Sondland testifies in the Donald Trump impeachment inquiry. The US ambassador to the EU takes the stand in week two of the public hearings. Other witnesses have said that Sondland worked at the president’s direction to push Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden.
Justin Trudeau unveils his cabinet roster. A shakeup is expected as the Candian prime minister navigates his new minority government after losing a number of seats in October’s election. Roles like chief whip, house leader, and committee chairs are now far more important than when Trudeau commanded a parliamentary majority.
While you were sleeping
The US Senate passed the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The bill, which aims to protect civil rights in Hong Kong and punish government officials responsible for suppressing freedoms in the city, was adopted unanimously and was swiftly condemned by China. Another bill that bans the export of certain munitions to Hong Kong police forces was also passed with full support.
Australia said social media companies should be treated as publishers. Attorney general Christian Porter called for platforms like Facebook and Twitter to be held to the same regulatory standards as media companies. Facebook has long insisted that it’s a tech, not media, company, while opponents want it to accept more responsibility over information shared on its platform.
Israel struck dozens of Iranian targets in Syria. The Israeli military said its fighter jets hit surface-to-air missiles, weapons warehouses, and military bases belonging to Iran’s Quds force, in response to rocket attacks yesterday. The strikes further burst into the open the long-running proxy war between the two foes.
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 profferred politicians, the first televised showdown between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn ended with no clear winner.
US-South Korea defense talks ended abruptly. Negotiators for the two countries were at odds over how they should share the costs of stationing 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.
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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.
We need to regulate the Arctic cruise industry. But the political complexity of the region makes it notoriously hard to govern tourism practices there.
Surprising discoveries
A dog named Bear rescued koalas in Australia. The obsessive compulsive dog who was abandoned as a puppy now helps to find and save animals injured in the country’s devastating wildfires.
South Korea regulators monitor porn round the clock. They’re part of a new digital sex crime monitoring unit that searches for and removes sexual videos posted without consent.
Austria is turning Adolf Hitler’s birthplace into a police station. The decision comes after a years-long legal battle with the family that owned the yellow corner house for nearly a century.
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.
The brain is the most resilient organ in the human body. As brains age and shrink, neurons find new ways to stay connected.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, obsessive rescue dogs, 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 written by Mary Hui and edited by Isabella Steger.