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What to watch for today
New Google smartphones. While bidding adieu to the Nexus brand, the company will launch two new phones—Pixel and Pixel XL. Also expected are a smart-home hub, Chromecast updates, and other hardware.
The IMF releases its World Economic Outlook. This is the first year China will be at the table, after the yuan joined IMF’s basket of global reserves. Topics on the agenda include the Greek debt crisis, immigration, and the slowdown in international trade (paywall).
Afghanistan seeks $3 billion in aid. At a conference in Brussels on Oct. 4 and 5, leaders will seek funds to battle the “powerful Taliban’s insurgency” and “pervasive corruption” in the country. The US contributed almost $5 billion in defense aid last year.
While you were sleeping
Research on autophagy won the Nobel prize. Intervention in the process of how cells recycle their own parts can help humans live healthier and longer lives. Winner Yoshinori Ohsumi has earned Japan its sixth overall Nobel prize in the medicine category.
Facebook launched an app for emerging markets. Messenger Lite, a “slimmed down” version of the flagship messaging app, uses one-tenth of the storage, making it appealing to those with older devices or low connectivity. The company also launched Marketplace, a shopping forum, to compete with the likes of eBay and Craigslist.
Pakistani militants attacked a Kashmiri army base—again. Six men killed one border guard and injured another two weeks after the Uri attacks, when 19 soldiers died, heightening tensions between India and Pakistan. Recently, India launched “surgical strikes” on its neighbor too.
The Trump Foundation ceased collecting funds in New York. The state attorney general accused Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s charity of violating state law by failing to register with the charities bureau. The organization, which stopped receiving funds by Monday afternoon, has 15 days to fix its paperwork defect.
Russia suspended its nuclear pact with the US. Amid souring relations over Ukraine, president Vladimir Putin undermined a treaty with Washington meant to compel both sides to dispose of surplus plutonium. Russia has said it will not use the radioactive chemical to build nuclear weapons.
Quartz obsession interlude
Jason Karaian on the unsoundness of the pound. British prime minister Theresa May said Oct. 2 that she would officially start the process for Britain’s exit from the European Union no later than March 2017. As Brexit looks more and more like a “hard” break from the EU, the pound plumbs new depths. Read more here.
Matters of debate
Treat your email inbox like your real life mailbox. Take control and break free from the time-sucking tyranny of the rule of reciprocity by learning to ignore some requests.
Should Indian women have to sacrifice their careers to live in America? They can’t easily work because of conservative in-laws, unsupportive husbands, and—worst of all—a class of visa that is almost Victorian in its restrictions.
A “moral economy” isn’t just idealism. We badly need ethics on Wall Street.
Surprising discoveries
For the first time in 45 years, a majority of Americans don’t support the death penalty. Beliefs are heavily split by political affiliation, with 34% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans still supporting execution.
Toyota is releasing a chatty robot that keeps you company while you drive. It can adjust its conversation based on your mood and provide feedback on your driving skills.
Abu Dhabi is towing dirty cars. The fine for “disfiguring public appearance” is up to 3,000 Dirham ($816).
Nigeria is missing $17 billion in oil. It was reportedly exported from the country without being properly declared.
A parent explains why she doesn’t want a world without Down’s syndrome. Actor Sally Phillips has made a documentary looking at the ethics behind testing for the genetic defect.
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