Good morning, Quartz readers!
What to watch for today
Clinton and Trump face off for the last time. The presidential debate in Las Vegas is perhaps the last chance for the Republican nominee to dent his rival’s commanding lead before the Nov. 8 election, which he claims is “rigged.” Quartz is live blogging the event and running an interactive drinking game.
The European Central Bank decides on interest rates. President Mario Draghi is expected to hold rates at their record low of -0.4%, but the big question is whether he’ll talk about plans for bond buying in 2017. Any plans to slow down purchases would jolt markets.
Don’t mention Brexit at Theresa May’s first EU summit. The new British prime minister will brief other EU leaders on her exit plan, but European Council president Donald Tusk doesn’t want them to respond and kick off an ad hoc negotiation. Migration, trade, and relations with Russia are also on the agenda.
While you were sleeping
A super typhoon rocked the Philippines. Haima’s wind gusts of up to 195 mph (315 kph) caused extensive damage in Cagayan province overnight, and is threatening four other provinces in the north of the country. President Rodrigo Duterte is on a state visit to China.
The European Space Agency lost contact with its Mars probe. The Schiaparelli craft, designed to test new landing equipment, went ominously silent after its descent to the planet’s surface. A separate orbiting satellite will search the planet for the chemical signatures of life.
Saudi Arabia launched a $17.5 billion bond sale. The largest ever emerging market bond offering (paywall) comes as the petrostate battles a massive budget deficit. Saudi officials have vowed to cut state spending and invest in non-oil businesses.
Facebook wants to sell you a pizza. The tech giant unveiled new features (paywall) that let customers order food deliveries, book salon appointments, and buy tickets to events through its website and app. The move is seen as a challenge to Google and its efforts to dominate local e-commerce.
New York cracked down hard on Airbnb. The state legislature passed a bill that would impose strict fines on people who put their homes and apartments up for rent; the governor has 10 days to sign or veto the measure. Airbnb has threatened to sue over the proposal, which could see listings in New York City cut in half.
Quartz markets haiku
A nation hangs in
The balance. Not the U.S.
Saudi Arabia
Quartz obsession interlude
Annalisa Merelli on the consequences of electing a sexist to run your country: “While his pop-culture influence primed Italian audiences for misogynist content, it was Berlusconi’s political influence that made sexism seem powerful. By continuing to appeal to the lowest instincts of the Italian male, Berlusconi was living proof that disrespecting and belittling women was the best way to become successful.” Read more here.
Matters of debate
The world isn’t ready for online voting. Even though it would increase voter turnout, the system could be easily manipulated.
Facebook is defending diversity by keeping a Trump booster on its board. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is defying demands that he cut ties with Peter Thiel.
The US and Europe are silent bystanders to Russia’s war crimes in Syria. The West must show there is a price to pay for Moscow’s aggression.
Surprising discoveries
Montblanc’s luxurious pens are going digital. A $650 device uses “augmented paper” to transfer writing directly to digital devices.
Eels consume their own bones to survive marathon migrations. They lose more than half their bone volume during the 3,000-mile journey.
Hot dogs need a new name in Malaysia. Islamic religious authorities don’t like the canine-derived moniker.
Iran is airing the US presidential debate. The mudslinging between the candidates makes for great propaganda.
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